5 worst free agent signings under Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

The Minnesota Vikings are knee-deep in this year's NFL free-agency period. They've let some players go, brought in some new faces, and even brought back a couple of familiar names.

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and company are far from done, as more players will be brought in to fill needs over the coming weeks.

With each new signing, there's hope that comes with it. We hope this player pans out and helps Minnesota win games, get into the playoffs, and ultimately win the Super Bowl. But sometimes, that hope wears out, and reality sets in.

Truth is, the majority of these signings don't go the way fans or the front office hope. Sometimes they go south quickly to the point they are soon deemed mistakes, and everyone is online griping about Adofo-Mensah and how he needs to go.

Just like every general manager in the NFL, Adofo-Mensah has had some free-agent signings that have failed. Some failed to greater degrees than others, as expectations or perhaps the contracts were larger.

So let's go ahead and rank Adofo-Mensah's worst free agent signings during his time as the Vikings' general manager, going from bad to worst.

Worst free agent signings under Minnesota Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

5. Troy Reeder - LB

Troy Reeder wasn't a splashy signing by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah late in free agency last year, but he was seen as someone who likely was going to contribute. Reeder had been a very good special teamer in his career, which spanned multiple seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.

Reeder also proved to be a decent spot starter, even having seasons where he racked up 81 and 91 total tackles. He was with Kevin O'Connell in Los Angeles during their Super Bowl run in 2021, and that connection helped him get signed by the Vikings.

Reeder's role was expected to be that of a solid backup linebacker who also played special teams. He wasn't a threat to Jordan Hicks's starting job, and no one seemed to think he'd unseat Brian Asamoah as the third-round rookie from 2022 was expected to be a big-time contributor in year two. What no one expected was the emergence and dominance of Ivan Pace Jr., an undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati.

Pace burst onto the scene, and it was evident early he was the best option to start opposite Hicks. It also didn't take long to realize that Troy Dye was better than Reeder.

The Vikings weren't about to keep Reeder over their third-round pick, Asamoah, so the veteran linebacker was released on cut day, officially ending his tenure with the team before it started.