Brian Flores will return to the Minnesota Vikings in 2026 as the defensive coordinator, and while he cooks that meal […]
Brian Flores will return to the Minnesota Vikings in 2026 as the defensive coordinator, and while he cooks that meal on defense, he might just get to buy the groceries. With general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah out as general manager, Flores is expected to have a significant personnel impact in free agency and the draft.
If Minnesota leans defense early, Flores’ fingerprints could be all over the March plan and April board.
Minnesota signed Flores to a monster extension and will have to earn it by obtaining the right players.
Brian Flores Could Wield Rare Roster Influence in 2026
Rejoice: Flores is back — with more power.
The Kwesi Disharmony
Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling noted on Adofo-Mensah last weekend, “Adofo-Mensah’s background led some around the NFL to view him with skepticism, and he acknowledged several times during his tenure that he was learning on the job, in everything from player evaluation to leading his front-office staff.”
“Rob Brzezinski stepped in to assist in some trade negotiations, while coach Kevin O’Connell served as an emissary during tense discussions such as Danielle Hunter’s 2023 hold-in. Sources spoke of frustration from the team’s scouting staff and from defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who let his contract expire before signing a new deal Jan. 21.”
Folks had wondered for months why the Vikings hadn’t signed Flores to an extension. It now appears that he wasn’t necessarily fond of Adofo-Mensah.
Goessling added, “The Vikings’ lack of draft success seemed to be a constant stressor, leaving the roster without the depth it needed to weather injuries and forcing Brzezinski to cover draft mistakes with cleverly structured contracts that were lucrative enough to woo players to Minnesota without putting the Vikings back in cap purgatory.”
Adofo-Mensah did not draft well, the Vikings must hit on rookies as soon as this April, the team will not hire a new general manager until after the draft, and Flores might be the last man standing to make the call when Minnesota is on the clock.
Think about it: Who else would it be?
Flores a De Facto Defensive GM?
Without the buck-stops-here guy — Adofo-Mensah from 2022 to 2025 with his general manager title — drafting defensive players or finding them in free agency is now up to Brzezinski, O’Connell, and Flores. Well, take one wild guess who’s the best defensive mind of the trio. It is, of course, Flores.
Brzezinski does not have an advanced personnel background, at least compared to his capologist magic. O’Connell will presumably run the show on offense, and that leaves Flores for defense.
It’s actually a coach’s dream — the ability to pick his players for his scheme. While other coordinators might have input, Flores may now has the keys to the city. No wonder he returned to Minnesota.
Follow the Money
How is this theory plausible? It’s the money. Minnesota will pay $6 million per year, a record-shattering sum and one deserved for a coach who habitually fosters Top 3 defenses. Why would a coordinator get so much? Foremost, there’s the production. He immediately transformed Minnesota’s defense into a contender from the jump when hired in 2023.
Then, it just makes sense that the guy who’s pulling down the supreme coordinator contract would take on quasi-general manager responsibilities. He probably loves it, but think about it: if the franchise needs Flores to determine the right players from free agency and the draft, shouldn’t he be paid extra handsomely for his services? That’s how the world works.
Flores’ new giant contract reflects that of a man who is about to lead a Top 5 defense and choose the right players from free agency and the draft.
NBC Sports‘ Mile Florio noted on Flores’s salary: “Because coaching pay lacks the transparency of player pay, it’s impossible to know with certainty how much anyone makes. It was reported that Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly received $6 million per year. Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio makes $4.5 million annually.”
“With Kelly now fired, those numbers would make Flores the highest-paid coordinator in the league. Minnesota’s willingness to spend that much on Flores may help explain the reluctance of the Cowboys to enter the bidding. Yes, we’d be surprised by the amount of the check that owner Jerry Jones would write to guarantee a Super Bowl win. We’d be surprised, because it’s so small.”
Translation to … Who in the Draft?
Let’s pretend that Flores gets his way, and the Vikings spend their 1st-Round pick — No. 18 — on a defensive player. Flores will have options. These players might blend the best player available at No. 18 and the club’s long-term roster need:
- CJ Allen (LB, Georgia)
- Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
- Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina)
- Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
- Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
- Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State)
- Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
- Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
- Aveion Terrell (CB, Clemson)
- Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
- Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
Cornerbacks, especially, will be plentiful at Minnesota’s spot, and the franchise hasn’t successfully drafted one in 11 years.
Perhaps GM Flores will snap the naughty streak.
Category: General Sports
