It’s clear that the Vikings are still operating in the world of a competitive rebuild.
From the moment they joined forces with the Vikings, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell had a shared vision for the franchise. They always wanted to be playing meaningful games in Minnesota.
That has been the driving force behind the competitive rebuild that has become synonymous with the current regime. In the pursuit of a Super Bowl, the Vikings were not going to sacrifice the present for the future. In other words, they weren’t willing to tank to become a contender.
As he sat in his office at TCO Performance Center this week with the trade deadline approaching, Adofo-Mensah kept coming back to that shared vision. Though the Vikings had lost franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins to a torn Achilles less than 48 hours earlier, and nobody would have blamed them for selling off some of their assets in response, Adofo-Mensah believed this group still deserved a chance to compete for the playoffs.
As a result, the Vikings decided to add journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs for some added depth, and more importantly, resisted the temptation to subtract star pass rusher Danielle Hunter for a high draft pick.
“I sat there and studied and I looked at all the different scenarios,” Adofo-Mensah said. “Ultimately, I made the decision to stand pat and keep going the way we’re going.”
Naturally, as Adofo-Mensah answered questions about the trade deadline, the conversation went in so many different directions. Here are some of the highlights of the 15 minutes:
Does he want to re-sign Kirk Cousins?
After waking up from surgery on Wednesday morning, Cousins texted back and forth with Adofo-Mensah, mentioning how he hoped to be ready to go by the time the Vikings start working out in the spring. The biggest issue is Cousins not having a contract beyond this season.
Is it possible that the Vikings bring him back?
“It’s like I said when we broke off talks the first time,” Adofo-Mensah said. “Every option is still available.”
That could include a reunion if both sides are able to come to an agreement. Asked if he personally wants Cousins under center next season, Adofo-Mensah noted that it’s not up to him alone. There are a lot of factors that go into that decision that will be discussed at a later date.
“It’s a negotiation,” Adofo-Mensah said. “We’ll have that dialogue when the time comes.”
