Brian Flores, The Vikings Defense, and The All-Important Hinge Player
Brian Flores knows a thing or two about defense. When he speaks, we would be wise to listen.
One wonders, then, about the defensive coordinator’s assessment of corner Isaiah Rodgers. The former Colt and Eagle offers promise but not ironclad certainty. Can he be a strong starter? The question can’t be answered since it’s something he has never done, at least not in a full-time sense at the NFL level. Minnesota is therefore moving into a season with some uncertainty at what is a vitally important position.
Brian Flores and The Necessity of Isaiah Rodgers
Succeeding against a defense sometimes comes down to finding a weak link.
If, for instance, an offensive coordinator and/or quarterback sees that the defense’s CB2 simply can’t hang with the offense’s pass catcher(s), then one can expect to see that CB2 targeted relentlessly. Basically, keep doing what works until one defeats the opponent or forces the opponent to make some sort of difficult adjustment.
Apply that very basic reality to the Vikings.
Byron Murphy Jr. is sitting atop the corner position, unquestionably the CB1 after agreeing to his three-year deal that’s paying him a whopping $54 million. The plan for the Vikings is to continue moving Murphy around, leaning into his intelligence, athleticism, and versatility to use him as a matchup piece against the offense.
But then there’s uncertainty for what is going to occur after Murphy. At least two more reliable corners are needed, but especially the one who is going to be the every-down CB2.
Yes, Isaiah Rodgers comes with some upside. Both Brian Flores and Matt Daniels think that he could be a strong option for their respective units. What we’re dealing with, though, is a belief. There’s a bet that’s taking place, a projection into the future for what Rodgers can become rather than what he has been. See the difference?
Isaiah Rodgers won’t wow anyone with size. The No. 211 pick from the 2020 NFL Draft comes in at just 5’10” and 170 pounds. He is, however, tremendously fast, giving him upside.
Last season, PFR’s advanced statistics indicate that only 46.4% of passes into his coverage were completed. On average, these completions went for just 9.1 yards as he constrained opposing quarterbacks to an 82.1 passer rating. Promising, yes, but coming from within the context of playing fifteen games — three starts — within a loaded Eagles defense.
After Isaiah Rodgers is even more uncertainty. How does Mekhi Blackmon bounce back from injury? Can Jeff Okudah start to live up to his No. 3 draft slot (he’s working on it)? Does sophomore Dwight McGlothern push his game to a point where he can be more than just depth?
More questions linger. Can anyone from within the cluster of veteran depth guys — Ambry Thomas, Tavierre Thomas, etc. — or even an UDFA — Zemaiah Vaughn — far exceed expectations?
Rodgers, 27, is working on a two-year contract sitting at $11,045,000. Essentially, low-end starter money, a contract that’s somewhere around CB2/CB3 territory. Brian Flores will be hoping that Rodgers outperforms the contract from Week 1 onward.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and Bluesky (@VikingsGazette). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.
