Brian Flores Changed the Vikings Offseason
Janik Eckardt
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The search for the new Vikings’ defensive coordinator went on for over two weeks. Minnesota hired Brian Flores as the new chief of defense. Flores, a former head coach, was one of the market’s top available candidates, and the hire changed the Vikings offseason.
While Flores was a homerun hire, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has more work to do in his second offseason in charge. The team is roughly $23 million over the cap limit, so crucial roster decisions have to follow the coaching change. Veterans, some of them played their whole careers in purple, may have to depart from the organization to save cap space. However, Flores makes it more likely for some players to stay.
Brian Flores Changed the Vikings Offseason
The new defensive coordinator will have a say in the decision-making process to some extent. He needs specific players for his system to work, and some Vikings certainly fit his concept.
The best example is Harrison Smith. He is one of the league’s most versatile players, therefore, a perfect fit. Flores is calling plenty of blitzes, many confusing for defenses because the blitzing players vary. Having a player that can play different positions, like Smith, who can play in the box and as a deep safety, who is good on blitzes and in pass coverage, makes Flores’ job easier. He can design more plays if he has players with extensive skillsets.
Smith was misused in 2022 and still played better than most safeties in the league. Former defensive coordinator Ed Donatell sent one of the elite blitzing defensive backs on blitzes nine times, according to pro-football-reference. In the four seasons from 2018 to 2021, Smith blitzed 30 to 40 times per campaign. For comparison, in Flores’ final year in Miami, rookie safety Jevon Holland was sent on blitzes 51 times.
The 2022 Vikings as a team blitzed on 18.9% of the snaps. Flores is much more aggressive. His Miami Dolphins were always among the league leaders in that category.
Smith is not only excellent at getting to the quarterback on blitzes, but he’s also special at disguising his blitzes. Opposing quarterbacks rarely know when he’s coming to get them. Rival quarterback Aaron Rodgers talked about Smith’s versatility during the 2021 season.
Before Flores was hired, some folks claimed that Smith played his last game in Minnesota and could be a cap casualty. However, Smith should be safe, as he fits perfectly in the new system. The six-time Pro Bowler might no longer have elite athleticism, but he showed in 2022 that he’s still a fantastic player. Despite turning 34 years old about a week ago, Smith could be in line for a great season in 2023.
It will be one of the top questions in preseason and training camp if 2022 first-round selection Lewis Cine can win the starting job next to him.
Other players could also be sure bets to stay on the team. The two pass rushers, Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith, can be considered the strength of the Vikings’ defense. Hunter could ask for a new deal, as he only has one year left on his current contract and is in line to get paid only $5 million in 2023. Smith could be cut without a big dead cap hit. So neither of the two stars is automatically a part of the 2023 Vikings.
It should be noted that organizations and coaching candidates talk about things like this during their interviews. Flores knows the team’s vision for how the roster will look in the near future. He had other opportunities and is a hot name even in head coaching circles. It’s even possible, if not likely, that he views the job with the Vikings as a step toward becoming a head coach again. He would under no circumstances take the job and hurt his future chances if he expected the roster to be bad.
Hunter and Smith are not replaceable in one offseason, and to have two great pass rushers on the team is the biggest benefit of the Vikings’ defense. Flores likely made sure to have them on the team in 2023.
The story could be different for the two linebackers, Eric Kendricks and Jordan Hicks. The two didn’t play very well in 2022, are not scheme fits, and in some places, the Vikings have to save some money. Releasing the two would save $14,5 million, and Flores could use 2022 rookie Brian Asamoah and sign a linebacker that fits his scheme much better than the two veterans.
Another aspect is the cornerback room. Flores currently finds last year’s rookies Andrew Booth, Akayleb Evans, and Kalon Barnes on the roster as projects.
He also has fourth-year veteran Cameron Dantzler, who flashed some solid play every now and then but lacks consistency. It’s quite possible that neither the two starting outside CBs nor the slot cornerback is not on the roster yet.
Drafting a rookie at the position is likely, maybe even using an early draft pick. Adofo-Mensah also has to take a strong look at the free agent class. Flores’ system needs cornerbacks that can play man coverage, and having good cornerbacks, in general, is essential, so the position should get a lot of attention in the offseason.
The offseason plan for the Vikings changed when they hired the high-profile candidate Flores.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
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