5 things the new Vikings GM needs to do differently than Rick Spielman

Prioritize building through the trenches

Rick Spielman had plenty of good picks throughout his time with the Vikings but one area he often ignored was the trenches. Some of the best teams and lasting dynasties in the NFL are built upfront. Spielman rarely went that route early in the draft, and also rarely used multiple picks in the same draft to bolster the trenches.

He only spent three of his 13 first-round picks on offensive linemen. Two of them were busts. He only took a defensive tackle in the first round once and never a defensive end. This trend has to stop.

Adofo-Mensah needs to prioritize building through the trenches. The Vikings have been manhandled up front on both sides of the ball for far too long. They have to get meaner, tougher, and stronger if they are going to be in the thick of the NFC race.

It’s a good bet that Adofo-Mensah will go this route. He comes from San Francisco and Cleveland, two franchises that have put a lot of emphasis on upgrading their lines. It is in his DNA  and improving these areas consistently in the draft and in free agency seems like a given.