The Minnesota Vikings made a difficult decision to release Lewis Cine, their first draft pick under the current regime. It was clear that Cine’s fate was sealed as he spent extra time after practice, working on his skills with the Jugs machine while his teammates headed back inside. This move, along with the earlier trade of Andrew Booth Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys, marked the end of the road for both players in the Vikings’ 2022 draft class.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell had never fully explained the struggles of Cine and Booth or how they ended up in this position. However, they took the opportunity to address these issues and reflect on the decisions that led to their release. Adofo-Mensah recalled a conversation with O’Connell about the Vikings’ comeback win against the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. He likened the feeling of desperation in that game to the choices they made in the draft.
When Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell were hired, they faced the challenge of assembling a winning team with an aging roster, limited salary cap space, and few draft picks. They had to find a way to balance short-term success with long-term sustainability. Adofo-Mensah took a non-traditional approach by trading down and acquiring additional draft picks. This strategy was criticized at the time but resulted in solid selections, according to draft expert Dane Brugler.
However, Adofo-Mensah admitted that he may have approached the puzzle of building a team as one massive obstacle rather than breaking it down into smaller steps. This realization suggests that the evaluation process could have been more thorough and focused on individual talent rather than trying to make a big splash.
O’Connell echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of evaluation in the draft process. He expressed openness to trading up or down depending on the impactfulness of a player. The Vikings’ evaluation process has evolved since 2022, with O’Connell playing a significant role, especially in quarterback evaluations. The team’s defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, also brings his expertise to the evaluation process, having a deep understanding of his own defensive system.
While the Vikings’ evaluation process has improved, drafting players remains a challenging task filled with uncertainty. The admission that there were flaws in the process is comforting, but ultimately, the results on the field are what matter most in this industry.
Overall, the release of Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth Jr. highlights the complexities and challenges of building a successful NFL team. The Vikings’ front office is learning from their past decisions and striving to improve their evaluation process to ensure they make the best choices for the team’s future.