The list of candidates for the Vikings GM opening continues to grow. In accordance with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team has requested interviews with three executives: Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew, Broncos assistant GM Reed Burckhardt, and Dolphins assistant GM Kyle Smith.
Agnew had front office stints with the Jets and Rams before following Brad Holmes to Detroit to grow to be the Lions assistant general manager in 2021. The manager has helped spearhead a franchise turnaround; after a three-win showing through the first 12 months under the brand new regime, the Lions have averaged greater than 11 wins per season since 2022. The front office has also pulled off shrewd trades (just like the Matthew Stafford–Jared Goff swap) and have hit on some key picks (including Aidan Hutchinson and Jahmyr Gibbs). In consequence, Agnew has been mentioned as a candidate to eventually lead his own front office.
Burckhardt earned a promotion to Denver’s assistant GM last offseason. The manager previously served because the team’s director of player personnel. Before his stint with the Broncos, Burckhardt worked alongside current boss George Paton in Minnesota, where he held a wide range of scouting and personnel roles. Following Burckhardt’s promotion to assistant GM in Denver, the Broncos proceeded to have one among their most successful seasons in recent history, ending with 14 victories.
Smith worked his way as much as vp of player personnel in Washington and assistant GM in Atlanta before taking an assistant GM gig in Miami under Jon-Eric Sullivan. The manager was credited with a few of Washington’s draft hits like Terry McLaurin, and he’s currently being counted on to guide an analogous rebuild in Miami.
The Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late January and went through the draft with Rob Brzezinski in place within the interim. Within the meantime, the team has been looking high and low for his or her recent front office leader. The most recent trio joins a listing of candidates that also includes Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander, 49ers assistant GM RJ Gillen, Bills assistant GM Terrance Gray, Rams assistant GM John McKay, Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasely, and Titans assistant GM Dave Ziegler.
Meanwhile, Albert Breer of SI.com recently provided some insight on the organization’s approach. The reporter suggests that Brzezinski might be kept in a task just like Mike Disner with the Lions or Tony Pastoors with the Rams, with the brand new GM being tasked with more of a “scouting-focused” role. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports adds that the team’s search will certainly proceed through Memorial Day and will drag on into late May.