Latest news with #BrianFlores
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Vikings Named Landing Spot for NFC North Rival Green Bay Packers Defender Jaire Alexander
Minnesota Vikings Named Landing Spot for NFC North Rival Green Bay Packers Defender Jaire Alexander originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The NFL season has passed the June 1 mark, and the possibilities are endless for free agents and trade partners, which might include the Minnesota Vikings. Advertisement Why that is important is that NFL teams will not be held to compensatory picks if they sign a free agent. Teams will also save money on contracts for those players they are looking to offload. Minnesota has remained busy in the offseason, spending $300 million on free agents to build an NFL juggernaut. It might not be over for the Vikings, though, as they could be in the market to add more talent. Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.© Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images CBS Sports writer Cody Benjamin shared a list of his top candidates to be cut or traded past June 1. One player of focus was Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander. While Benjamin believes a restructured deal is his prediction, if it goes sideways, the Vikings are a possible landing spot. Advertisement 'All offseason, the Green Bay Packers have publicly anticipated a breakup with Alexander, who's simultaneously been one of the NFL's best -- and most injured -- cover men. Both sides hinted at a split in free agency, either via trade or release. Now the Packers apparently have a new contract offer on the table, but if the Pro Bowler doesn't bite at a pay cut, Green Bay could save $17 million by cutting or trading the cornerback after June 1. That's an increase of $9.5 million from prior to June 1.' Alexander has spent the last seven years making the Vikings' offense miserable in the Packers' secondary, racking up 287 tackles, 70 pass deflections, and 12 interceptions in 78 games. He's made the Pro Bowl and was an AP second-team All-Pro selection twice in 2020 and 2022. Should Green Bay move on from Alexander, it's doubtful they would trade him to the Vikings. Instead, Alexander would have to get released, and Minnesota could swoop in to get him. The Vikings' defense was among the worst against the pass last year, ranking 28th and allowing 242 yards per game. That led to changes being made as Cam Bynum departed for the Indianapolis Colts in free agency, and Stephon Gilmore has yet to sign with another team. Advertisement Minnesota brought in Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah to help at cornerback alongside Byron Murphy Jr. and Mekhi Blackmon. The Vikings surprisingly did not address the position in the 2025 NFL Draft, so speculation has risen about Minnesota signing a free-agent cornerback. Alexander is a good fit within Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores' scheme, as he is versatile and physical. The concern with Alexander is that he has missed 28 games since 2021 due to injuries. Suppose he becomes available via trade or free agency. In that case, Minnesota will have to consider the option, as one more cornerback is needed on the roster before the 2025 season for insurance purposes. Related: Javon Hargrave Faces Pivotal Season Entering Vikings OTAs Related: Vikings Announce Concerning Update on $88 Million Newcomer This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report: Extensions Incoming for Minnesota Vikings Coaches
Day two of Minnesota Vikings minicamp is in the books, meaning the first annual mandatory offseason workouts of the offseason are nearly complete as well. The team will hold their final minicamp workout on Thursday, before taking a couple weeks off. The final OTA practices of the offseason are scheduled for June 16-18. Then, most of the team will be off for a month, before they reconvene on July 21 for the start of training camp. What will we do with that time off? Advertisement Well while we twiddle our thumbs, while we wait for football to return, it sounds like the Minnesota Vikings front office will be busy inking assistant coaches to contract extensions. Extensions coming for Minnesota Vikings coaches, specifically Brian Flores and Wes Phillips According to Ben Goessling (Star Tribune) on a recent episode of the Access Vikings podcast, defensive coordinator Brian Flores and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips are both going into contract years and could be on the verge of extensions. In fact, he says to watch out for something on Phillips in the 'not-too-distant future'. 'Brian Flores, Wes Phillips entering contract years. My understanding is there's talks [happening] with a couple of those coaches. It sounds like we may hear something in the not-too-distant future on the Wes Phillips front. But yeah, they have some business to do with the coaching staff.' Ben Goessling – Access Vikings Podcast Advertisement Wes Phillips came over with Kevin O'Connell, from the Los Angeles Rams. Unlike some of the other young, up-and-coming coaches in the league who have and still do coach Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks, Wes is a veteran coaching voice who KOC doesn't have to worry as much about leaving for his next big opportunity. Outside of being arrested, pleading guilty to and getting suspended for a DWI back in December of 2023, Wes Phillips has been there by Kevin O'Connell's side since the beginning of his head coaching tenure… and it sounds like that will continue for the foreseeable future. Related: Multiple Insiders Still See Kirk Cousins Landing Back in Minnesota Prior to his arrival in Los Angeles in 2019, Phillips worked with Sean McVay in Washington from 2014-2018. Before that, he was with his dad Wade Phillips in Dallas from 2007-2013), first as an quality control coordinator, then assistant OL coach, before eventually becoming the Cowboys' tight ends coach for the 2013 season. Advertisement Prior to joining his father's NFL staff, Wes spent time as a college quarterbacks coach at West Texas A&M (2004-2005) and Baylor (2006). Flores extension incoming too…? Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings Obviously, Goessling doesn't do much to hide the fact that Kwesi is currently working out contracts with multiple coaches. He doesn't specifically reference something being close between defensive coordinator Brian Flores and the Minnesota Vikings, but he was the only other coach outside of Wes Phillips, who was mentioned by name. More so than Phillips on offense, the Minnesota Vikings defense is 100% reliant on its defensive coordinator. Nobody runs a defense like Brian Flores and there is a reason for that. In the two seasons since taking over in place of one-and-done failure Ed Donatell, the Vikings defense has flourished under Flores. Advertisement Related: Justin Jefferson Reveals Why He Attended Minnesota Vikings OTAs In 2022, they ranked 28th out of 32 NFL teams in points allowed (427) and 31st in yards allowed (6,608). In year two under Flores (2024), the MN Vikings defense ranked 5th in points allowed (332) and 16th in yards allowed (5,702). The only reason why Brian Flores is not a head coach is because of the mistakes he made with Tua Tagovailoa in Miami, combined with the ongoing lawsuit he has against multiple teams and the league, itself. Until all of those things are resolved, Kevin O'Connell and the Minnesota Vikings will be happy to have him as their DC. Related Headlines
USA Today
30-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings earn national audience for preseason game against Titans
Vikings earn national audience for preseason game against Titans The Minnesota Vikings defense has proven to be one of the toughest in the NFL in recent years, but in 2024, they became special. Brian Flores had a unit that struck fear into the hearts of every quarterback that faced it and now they will get to welcome the top pick in the draft to the NFL. Andrew Siciliano announced on Thursday the NFL's national preseason game schedule and the Minnesota Vikings find themselves being the final game on the slate. They will be facing the Tennessee Titans and their new franchise quarterback Cam Ward on CBS in primetime on August 22. In past year, the final preseason game of the year has been the final audition for teams to get to see what their first-team units look like ahead of the new season, so it would mean that Ward would face the majority of the Pro Bowlers on the Vikings' defensive side of the ball. The Titans will see very quickly what they have in their new quarterback, and the Vikings will see how he can handle the pressure coming at them from a quarterback who can extend plays.
USA Today
28-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings DC Brian Flores given the ultimate compliment by ESPN analyst
Vikings DC Brian Flores given the ultimate compliment by ESPN analyst Brian Flores has long been seen as one of the better defensive minds in the NFL for over a decade. Right now, he is the ultimate ace up the Vikings' sleeve as they finally aim to secure a Lombardi Trophy. ESPN's Benjamin Solak wrote about 100 different angles and points leading up to the NFL season, as we are just under as many days away from kicking off the season. One of the points he discusses is how Flores is that ultimate weight to tip the scales in the favor of the Vikings as long as he is on their sidelines. "For another year, the greatest non-quarterback competitive advantage in the NFL is that of Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. He is unquestionably one of the 32 (if not 20) best coaches in football and a clear and obvious head coaching candidate, if not for the fact that he is suing the league." Labeling him as the "greatest non-quarterback competitive advantage" is a great way of describing the cooridnator at this point. Once Solak points out the lawsuit is ongoing, it will be over soon. I think Vikings fans will see him disappear from their sidelines and see him taking part in another. He is too good to be ignored for much longer, and an owner and front office are going to take a chance on him.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Vikings sign linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel to 1-year, $23 million extension: Reports
Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel is staying put in Minnesota. On Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Ginkel and the Vikings agreed to a one-year extension worth $23 million. The deal guarantees Van Ginkel $22.4 million, per Schefter. The 29-year-old was entering the final season of the two-year deal he signed with Minnesota last offseason. A raise in Minnesota: Vikings reached agreement today on a one-year $23 million extension that includes $22.4 million guaranteed for LB Andrew Van Ginkel, per his agents Drew and Jason Rosenhaus. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 29, 2025 Van Ginkel started in all 17 games for the Vikings last season and finished with a career-high 11.5 sacks, with 18 tackles for loss and 19 quarterback hits. He also recorded two interceptions, both resulting in touchdowns. He was on the field for the Vikings in 81 percent of their defensive snaps. Van Ginkel quickly became a key player in Minnesota's defense as the team went 14-3 before losing to the Los Angeles Rams in a wild-card game. After five seasons in Miami, Van Ginkel arrived in Minnesota as a familiar face to defensive coordinator Brian Flores from their time with the Dolphins. In 90 career games (59 starts), Van Ginkel recorded 28.5 sacks, 49 tackles for loss, and 76 quarterback hits with four interceptions, 27 passes defensed, and five forced fumbles. He was a fifth-round draft pick of the Dolphins in 2019.
