Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores decided not to sign a contract extension before this season, and that bet on himself worked out very well. Not only is he a candidate for head coaching jobs, but any team with a defensive coordinator opening could try to woo him for a lateral move as his contract officially comes to an end.
And so, it begins.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Tuesday, the Washington Commanders are hoping to interview Flores about their defensive coordinator job.
"The Commanders are hoping to interview Vikings DC Brian Flores for their vacant defensive coordinator job, source said. Flores’ contract is up in Minnesota, so he is able to look at other similar jobs."
The Commanders allowed the most total yards and the sixth-most points in the league this season, leading to defensive coordinator Joe Whitt easily being relieved of his duties. Of course, the defensive side of the ball is head coach Dan Quinn's area of expertise, so getting things turned around next season is a must.
That said, hoping to talk to Flores and it actually happening are two very different things, for the Commanders or anyone else who's looking for a new defensive coordinator. Washington is simply the first reported team that wants to interview him for a defensive coordinator job, and there will likely be multiple others as long as he is available.
Would Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores make a lateral move to the Washington Commanders?
Quinn is surely looking for fresh ideas to foster the needed defensive turnaround next season, and Flores represents something different more than any other defensive coordinator candidate does.
In terms of coverage tendencies this season, according to Stat Rankings, here's how the Vikings and Commanders' defenses looked.
Man Coverage Rate
Vikings: 17.74 percent (lowest in the league)
Commanders: 27.84 percent (16th-highest in the league)
Zone Coverage Rate
Vikings: 79.03 percent (highest in the league)
Commanders: 64.6 percent (16th-highest in the league)
It's not surprising to see Minnesota on the extreme ends of those coverage metrics, and it's equally unsurprising that the Commanders were smack dab in the middle of both.
Also, as expected, the Vikings again had the highest blitz rate in the league (43.96 percent) while the Commanders came in 20th (17.95 percent).
If Quinn is willing to give the reins of the defensive scheme completely to Flores, which feels like a big 'if', maybe there's a chance to get him to come to Washington. Shy of that, it seems unlikely.
There is a strong possibility Flores will only leave Minnesota for a head coaching job, and an official re-signing will come after he has exhausted those options.
But in the meantime, until it's rendered moot one way or the other, other teams that need a defensive coordinator can and should have interest in Flores. As far as the Commanders' coordinator gig goes, time will (presumably quickly) tell if the interest is mutual.