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The Minnesota Vikings are underway with their general manager search. With free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft behind them, the team could take a little longer in the process to determine who will permanently replace former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

Rob Brzezinski has held the job in the interim and could keep it permanently, but the Vikings are also considering external candidates. On the May 8 edition of “The Alec Lewis Show,” The Athletic’s Alec Lewis shared two external candidates who are generating the most buzz.

“The two names on the list of external candidates who have generated probably the most excitement among people throughout the league, including executives, scouts and agents, are Nolan Teasley, the assistant general manager with the Seattle Seahawks, and Terrance Gray, the assistant general manager with the Buffalo Bills,” Lewis said.

Alec Lewis Delves Into Background of the Two Candidates

Moreover, Lewis delved into the background of the two candidates, as Gray has ties to the Vikings after spending time with the team as a scout.

“Terrance Gray, the assistant general manager with the Buffalo Bills, was a longtime college scout in Minnesota working under Rick Spielman,” Lewis added. “He has progressed to his current role in Buffalo and has built strong ties around the league, particularly through his personnel scouting background.

“Nolan Teasley is a more interesting case. In external interviews, he does not necessarily come across as the most outgoing personality, but people throughout the league have a great deal of respect for him. That respect is rooted in his intelligence, work ethic, and approach within the Seattle Seahawks organization.

“I will be following this closely over the next few days and weeks. I have said in the past that the structure of these organizations is very important.”

It will be interesting to see whether one of these two candidates emerges as the leading one as the process moves along, or whether another name comes into the picture for the Vikings.

Kevin O’Connell Comments on Vikings’ GM Search

Meanwhile, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked about the team’s general manager search and was blunt, noting that he will only be as involved in the process as ownership wants him to be. 

“First and foremost, just out of respect for the process, it’s currently ongoing I would defer . . . everything to ownership, and [Vikings COO] Andrew Miller as that process is ongoing,” O’Connell said on May 8 (h/t Pro Football Talk). “I’m excited for potentially forming that relationship, going through the process, and as much of a part as ownership and Andrew want me to be a part of it, I will. . . . Very much looking forward to a great outcome, which I know we’re gonna get.

“In whatever capacity that ownership and Andrew have for me as their plan, that’s what I’m gonna do. Obviously, it’s an important time. It’s important. It’s clearly an important hire, but I have so much respect in the process-driven, the process-oriented aspect of not only our ownership, but Andrew Miller, that I know we’re gonna get to that good outcome.”

At the end of the day, Minnesota will need to put someone who will be on the same page as their head coach. As a result, it comes as no surprise that he’s partaking in the process to some extent.