Vikings request second GM interviews with Browns’ Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Chiefs’ Ryan Poles

The Vikings are moving toward a GM decision. They have identified Browns vice president of football operations Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Chiefs executive director of player personnel Ryan Poles as finalists.

While another finalist may emerge, Minnesota has thus far only requested second interviews with these two candidates, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Should Poles take the interview, it would be his second run as a GM finalist during this cycle. The Giants brought him in for a second interview, though Big Blue hired Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen earlier Friday. Just 36, Poles has interviewed with three of the four teams looking for a GM. The Bears also met with the rising exec.

Poles also took part in a second interview with the Panthers last year. On the cusp of a major rise, Poles would follow former Chiefs staffers Chris Ballard and Brett Veach were he to land a GM gig.

Adofo-Mensah joined Poles in interviewing with the Panthers last year, though he was not a finalist for that position. This marks the third-year Browns exec’s first time as a GM finalist. Before joining Cleveland’s front office in 2020 under Andrew Berry, Adofo-Mensah spent seven years with the 49ers. The Stanford grad worked in the business sector until 2013. Adofo-Mensah joined Poles in interviewing for the Bears’ GM gig as well. Chicago has not made its finalists known just yet, so Minnesota’s rival could have a say in this pursuit as well.

Here is how the Vikings’ GM search has shaped up thus far:

• Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, vice president of football operations (Browns): Second interview requested
• Brandon Brown, director of player personnel (Eagles): Interviewed 1/18
• Glenn Cook, vice president of player personnel (Browns): Interviewed 1/20
• Monti Ossenfort, director of player personnel (Titans): Interviewed 1/16
• Ryan Poles, director of player personnel (Chiefs): Second interview requested
• Catherine Raiche, vice president of football operations (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17
• John Spytek, vice president of player personnel (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/17
• Eliot Wolf, senior consultant (Patriots): Interviewed 1/20