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fire GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is that nailing the layups must happen. At No. 12 in 2022, the Vikings should have picked All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton instead of trading, a truth that has been discussed ad nauseam.
Are the recent QB comments from Adofo-Mensah another instance of missing a layup?
Back on January 13th, Adofo-Mensah stepped in front of the Minnesota media. Was there still an ongoing desire to have J.J. McCarthy functioning as the starting passer? Check out the answer: “I don’t know that that’s…I want the Vikings to achieve our goals. And I think one of those goals is to make playoff runs and do different things like that. I think he has the character and ability to be the person to do that for our organization; if I say that in 2026, that kind of binds us into a certain area.”
Afterwards, Adofo-Mensah uplifted the need to create a “deep competitive room” at quarterback.
J.J. McCarthy, The Fired GM, & The QB Comments
Maybe Adofo-Mensah was a bit gun shy.
In the past, he made comments that took on a life of their own. Almost certainty, the former Vikings executive didn’t expect his quip about pursuing a “competitive rebuild” to catch fire in the manner that it did. Looking around at other things he has said (champagne problem?) could lead to similar regret about how comments get pulled out of proportion, becoming a caricature of the original meaning.
 for Mr. McCarthy to come back as the QB1. </p>
<p>Consider, for instance, an imaginary example of affirming belief in McCarthy without crowning McCarthy: “Yes, of course, I want McCarthy to be the starter, but that’s ultimately a decision for the coaching staff and McCarthy himself. We’ll build up a deep, competitive QB position and McCarthy will work toward proving that he deserves to remain as the starter. All of us here will ensure that he has everything he needs to succeed.”</p>
<p>Now <em>that</em> would have been a better answer.</p>
<p>Obviously, being able to comment on the question close to a month after it got asked is much easier than thinking on the fly. But there’s the other side of things: Adofo-Mensah was (at the time he answered) working toward the end of his fourth season as an NFL GM. He had to know going into the presser that questions about McCarthy and the QB position more broadly were coming.</p>
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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
