The Minnesota Vikings’ 9-8 record in 2025 was buoyed by a defense that allowed only 10 points per game during the five-game win streak that ended the season. And the man in charge of that defense, coordinator Brian Flores, is back once again in 2026 after a fresh extension.
Flores has earned a reputation for making something out of nothing during his years with the Vikings. His defenses typically haven’t featured superstars or even stars, but they consistently outperform projections. This year, the Vikings lost arguably their top two defenders in Jonathan Greenard and likely Harrison Smith. So, will Flores have to work his magic even more, or is this season going to be different somehow?
Trading Greenard in no way helps Minnesota’s defense directly this year. Dallas Turner is arguably ready to take on a bigger role, but the spot is likely to be a net loss in terms of overall production. Turner has yet to compile a PFF grade over 65 through two seasons, while Greenard notched a 74.2 in 2025 despite his unfortunate Olé quarterback sacking technique. The same sentiment goes for Smith, who, at 37, is still probably an upgrade over half the starting safeties in the league.
But the Vikings did something different this offseason that they haven’t done in years, and it may be the reason that the defense will actually be better, and that Flores might be able to dial back his Flores-ness, at least a skosh.
It’s no secret that Flores had a big hand in selecting Minnesota’s 2026 draft class. Three of the first four picks were on the defensive side of the ball, an area the Vikings had multiple bad misses over the last few drafts. Since 2022, Turner has been the only real contributor on defense they’ve drafted, while players like Lewis Cine, Andrew Booth, and Mekhi Blackmon have flamed out. And yet, despite the draft woes, Flores consistently produced a top-10 defense every year.
Now he finally had a chance to get the players he wanted, and it could make all the difference. The Vikings used top-100 picks on Caleb Banks, Domonique Orange, Jake Golday, and Jakobe Thomas. There’s a real chance that at least three of them start in 2026, and that’s either exciting or terrifying.
Going with the bold assumption that starting three rookies will be a positive for this defense, it’s easy to see how things could actually go very well. Flores is going to bring the pressure again in 2026, and Banks should be an X-factor. Since Flores came to Minnesota, the Vikings have blitzed the most of any team at 46.9%, more than 8% higher than the next closest team in that same time span, according to Next Gen Stats. Banks may be the first player Flores employs who could single-handedly drop those frankly stunning numbers.
At 6’6” with an 85” wingspan and an elite first step, Banks can collapse a pocket before the quarterback has finished his dropback. His versatility and Flores’ madness will allow him to line up all over the defensive front and force offenses to account for his whereabouts at all times.
The Vikings haven’t really had that in recent years. Until the emergence of Jalen Redmond last year, their interior had mostly consisted of warm bodies to fill out all eleven spots. Along those (defensive) lines, Orange is a run-stuffer that Minnesota hasn’t had since the Dalvin Tomlinson days. His ability to free up Banks and Redmond won’t stuff the stat sheet, but it is a game-changer for Flores.
It shouldn’t be too hard to replace or even eclipse Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen‘s production up front. Still, finding ways to make up for the Greenard and Smith losses may prove more challenging. However, there’s another key piece that may hold the answer.
Second-round pick Jake Golday may take some time to find his footing in Flores’ scheme, but there’s a chance he becomes the new chess piece of the defense. Last year at Cincinnati, Golday lined up in the box 320 times, the slot 251 times, and edge 122 times. At 6’4”, he’s versatile enough to rush the passer but also has the eyes and coverage skills to play off-ball.
Alec Lewis summed it up best with this anecdote in The Athletic from Golday’s college position coach.
Cort Braswell, the linebackers coach at Cincinnati, said one NFL linebackers coach asked him an interesting question during the draft evaluation process: “If I come back here in five years, and Jake Golday didn’t make it, why would that be?”
“That’s a really good question. Nobody has asked that.’”
After a few seconds of thought, he said, “If he doesn’t make it, it’s your fault.”
“What do you mean?” the coach responded.
Braswell said, “There’s nothing you can put in front of him that he cannot accomplish.”
Ultimately, a lot of the success — or failures — of the defense this year will hinge upon these rookies putting things together quickly. However, if they can, there’s no telling what Flores might accomplish with an army of handpicked soldiers.
