Former QB for the Vikings Slams Kwesi Adofo-Mensah
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyle Slaughter believes in eye testing and clashed with analytics-focused CEO Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
In Purple Insider Matthew Koller’s book, “Football Is a Numbers Game: Pro Football Focus and How a Data-Driven Approach Reinvented the Sport,” Adofo-Mensah said using PFF data helped him learn more about the sport. This was declared publicly. I’m learning the game. “I use Pro Football Focus to teach me what I don’t know,” Adofo-Mensah told Koller. “PFF allows one to dig and explore on their own.”
Slaughter criticized Adofo-Mensah’s comments as a bad look for the Vikings general manager. “I can’t tell you how bad the situation looks if it’s true. Stats and numbers can’t tell you what you need to know about a game played with heart and passion,” Slaughter wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on February 6. “My eyes know who is better than numbers.”
Kyle Slaughter’s criticism of Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is short-sighted.
Slaughter’s criticism of Adofo-Mensah echoed similar sentiments among fans who saw Adofo-Mensah’s comments as sketchy and believed his research was done solely through PFF’s ratings.
But in reality, all 32 NFL teams use PFF for different reasons. This is another tool your team can use. Former commodity trader Adofo-Mensah is not afraid of information overload.
After Adofo-Mensah’s first draft in 2022, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert commented on the new makeup of the Vikings organization, saying the Wilfs wanted more of a “horizontal structure” after the battle for control between Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman. Adofo-Mensah acts as an intermediary between research and analytics and wants to use both to influence decision-making.
“He’s really good at listening to everybody and building consensus,” Ryan Grigson, vice president of player personnel, told ESPN in 2022. “I’ve never seen anything like it. A wide range of people get information and different channels: data, assistant coaches, research assistants. Everyone has a voice. And he’s really passionate about it. Everyone participates. It was beautiful to see.”
Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s upcoming draft will be one to watch.
This first draft was closely watched and few players contributed in their first two years in the league. But Adofo-Mensah’s first draft came shortly after he joined the organization last February. The Vikings decided to keep Spielman on their scouting unit that year given the amount of work he did in the 2022 draft class. Finally, Adofo-Mensah makes the final decision, but operationally his system is not yet fully functional.
Instead, last offseason, the Vikings added 10 new hires to their football operations and player personnel departments as Adofo-Mensah began adding to his staff. The 2023 rookie appears to have already found success with wide receiver Jordan Addison, cornerback Mehi Blackmon and junior Ivan Pace. Immediate collaborator.
This year’s draft could determine when Adofo-Mensah enters the final year of his contract with the Vikings. A strong draft class would provide the foundation for the Vikings’ roster, as depth has clearly been an issue in 2023.
