The 3 Best Decisions of the Vikings’ Offseason So Far
Ten weeks of the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason are in the books, with more free agency upcoming and the 2024 NFL Draft about 5.5 weeks away.
The 3 Best Decisions of the Vikings’ Offseason So Far
The club has added new free agents, re-signed in-house players, and even produced a blockbuster trade this week — a momentous six days in the grand scheme of Vikings history.
So, to level set, these are the Vikings’ three best offseason decisions to date. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best decision so far)
3. Retaining Brian Flores
Minnesota hired Flores 13 months ago after one season of Ed Donatell’s leadership. Flores improved the defense immediately, recasting his unit to the NFL’s 11th-best in 2023 from 24th in 2022 per DVOA. The relationship worked, and now Flores is on tap for Year No. 2 in Minnesota.
His return wasn’t always ironclad, though. The Vikings’ defense played absolutely phenomenally between Weeks 4 through 14, ranking tops in the league per EPA/Play, a metric adjudicating expected points added. As Flores’ group ascended the NFL, folks took notice and began to hint that he could easily be a one-hit-wonder for the Vikings.
Vikings fans cherished what they had at the moment and bided time to determine if Flores would return to the head coaching ranks in 2024. The rumor mill suggested Flores would only jump at the big job if a sturdy franchise had an HC opening, as he appeared to experience a raw deal with the Miami Dolphins after the 2021 season ended. Flores coached the Dolphins from 2019 to 2021 before things ended in somewhat controversial fashion.
And then Flores interviewed for no jobs this offseason. He’ll stay put in Minnesota for at least one more year, guaranteeing continuity, a rarity, at times, in the NFL.
2. Not Caving to Kirk Cousins’ Contract Request
Kirk Cousins played wonderfully for the Vikings in six seasons, but as Ted DiBiase said, “Everybody’s got a price.” Some might cost a little, and some might cost a lot. Cousins wanted the maximum dollars available, which the Atlanta Falcons provided.
Kudos to Minnesota’s front office for not bowing to Cousins.
Of course, Cousins could be great in 2024 and beyond. It wouldn’t be weird at all for that to happen. But Minnesota simply couldn’t accept the risk. The organization reached the postseason twice in six seasons on his watch, not worth the hefty annual cost of his employment — even if the defense was frequently to blame.
It was time for a change, and Minnesota changed. Plain and simple. More on that … now.
1. Positioned via Trade for the QB of the Future
The purple team pulled off this draft trade with the Houston Texans on Friday:
Vikings Receive:
No. 23
No. 232
Texans Receive:
No. 42
No. 188
2025 2nd-Round pick
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah now has more 1st-Round capital in this draft than any QB-needy team to trade up the board. And in all likelihood, the young executive wouldn’t have made the trade without knowing the next trade partner awaited.
Minnesota’s quarterback after the Cousins era has probably been identified, and the Vikings’ soon-to-be splash at the position to kickstart life after Cousins is so damn refreshing.
The Vikings are being bold.
Next Vikings Trade Will Be on the Way
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,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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