Vikings Seemingly Have a Shadow GM
The Minnesota Vikings have operated without a permanent general manager since Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired in January 2026, with Rob Brzezinski serving as interim GM during the draft. Despite Brzezinski's official role, there are questions about how much influence defensive coordinator Brian Flores had on draft decisions, given the team's focus on defensive players. The Vikings' draft strategy leaned heavily on defense, reflecting Flores' impact, while the offense has struggled in recent seasons.
- ▪Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired as the Vikings' GM after four seasons and has not been replaced as of May 2026.
- ▪Rob Brzezinski was named interim GM and oversaw the 2026 draft but has not received the full-time promotion.
- ▪The Vikings selected four defensive players in the first three rounds of the 2026 draft, fueling speculation about Brian Flores' influence.
- ▪ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that some league executives questioned whether Flores had significant input on the draft strategy.
- ▪Under Brian Flores, the Vikings have fielded the second-best defense in EPA/Play over the past three seasons, trailing only the Cleveland Browns.
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