Brian Flores Will Have 1 Enormous Item on To-Do List
The Minnesota Vikings hired Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers coach Brian Flores as the next defensive coordinator after searching for Ed Donatell’s replacement for a little over two weeks.
Flores will, of course, be asked to rectify the Vikings underwhelming 2022 defense that ranked sixth-worst per efficiency metrics, third-worst via points allowed, and second-worst in yards allowed.
Brian Flores Will Have 1 Enormous Item on To-Do List
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”1234602″ player=”26279″ title=”Ranking%20the%20Vikings%202023%20Offseason%20Needs” duration=”1078″ description=”With six needs, Dustin Baker ranks Minnesota’s top offseason priorities by position.” uploaddate=”2023-02-02″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/snapshot/1234602_th_1675358898.jpg” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/19437/sd/1234602.mp4″ width=”16″ height=”9″]
The mission should be achievable as Flores transformed the Dolphins 32nd-ranked defense in 2019 to a Top 10 group in 2020 and 2021 before Miami canned Flores in favor of Mike McDaniel in 2022. And if Flores is to mimic the Miami magic in Minnesota, he’ll have one enormous item on his to-do list right off the bat — find a sure-fire CB1.
The Vikings have Andrew Booth, Akayleb Evans, and Cameron Dantzler under contract at the moment — which is fine and dandy — and Patrick Peterson and Duke Shelley are free agents.
And then that’s it.
Flores’ defenses are aggressive, blitz-happy, and fueled by scrappiness — so, you know, the inverse of the 2022 Vikings defense. But a defense can’t be crazy frenetic and risk-taking with meh cornerbacks. Trustworthy corners are a stalwart of the way Flores likes to play.
The Vikings have a lot of decent cornerbacks — especially upside guys with rookies Booth and Evans — but no guaranteed shutdowns CBs are under contract. The franchise probably needs some semblance of a shutdown cornerback, whether via free agency or the NFL Draft. It’s the way Flores operates.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid even tweeted about the situation after the Flores hire, “Great hire for MIN. Pencil them in to take a CB early. Flores’ scheme relies heavily on man coverage + lots of aggression.”
Reid seems to believe Minnesota will invest its 23rd overall pick in a cornerback, which now adds up with Flores in the saddle. The Vikings have drafted six defensive backs in the 1st Round of the last 11 drafts, so selecting a cornerback or safety in Round 1 would be nothing new. Many of the picks, though, since 2015 haven’t worked out, including Mike Hughes and Jeff Gladney.
Via free agency, the Vikings could explore Jamel Dean (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), James Bradberry (Philadelphia Eagles), Cameron Sutton (Pittsburgh Steelers), or Jonathan Jones (New England Patriots). Re-signing Peterson and Shelley is an option, too, although it is unclear if Flores or general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would nominate either as an automatic CB1.
For the draft, well, the 2023 event is stuffed with good corners. That’s a plus for the Vikings, who are virtually assured to draft at least one more CB in April. From early returns of “mock draft season,” South Carolina’s Cam Smith is the early frontrunner to land with the Vikings at the 23rd overall pick.
If your goal was for the Vikings to scour the open market or draft a quasi-shutdown corner, the hire of Flores substantially enhances the possbility.
Otherwise, Minnesota would enter 2023 with Booth, Evans. Danztler — maybe Peterson and Shelley — plus several hopes and prayers.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.