The Vikings Must Avoid Drafting For Brian Flores At No. 18

Over the past couple of weeks, the Minnesota Vikings' strategy for the 2026 NFL Draft has appeared to be obvious. Most draft analysts have mocked Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman to the Vikings with the 18th-overall pick. The rationale is replacing Harrison Smith, who may retire. But it's also Thieneman’s intelligence and athleticism, which make him the perfect fit for Brian Flores’ defense.

Because of this, nobody will be surprised if Thieneman is Minnesota’s first-round pick next week. But even if there are crickets at the team’s draft party, someone should speak up and ask if taking a safety specifically for Flores is a good idea.

Minnesota's defense is its strength, and Flores’ scheme is a big part of it. But with an uncertain future, building the 2026 draft class to satisfy their defensive coordinator may be the type of short-sighted move the team is trying to avoid in this draft.

Part of this is something we discussed last week. Everybody thinks Thieneman is going to be the pick at No. 18. Most Vikings fans also believe that this could become a defensive-oriented draft, leaning into the strength of the roster amid quarterback uncertainty.

These moves can work out well for the team in charge. But they can also backfire because NFL coaching staffs are fickle.

Flores’ situation is extremely fluid. The 45-year-old took his contract negotiations down to the wire until the Vikings made him the NFL's highest-paid assistant. While Flores has six million reasons to stick around until he finds the perfect head coaching job, that opportunity could come if he leads Minnesota to another elite defensive performance in 2026.

However, that would put Thieneman and the rest of the upcoming draft class in a tough spot. Thieneman is good enough to thrive in most schemes, but he particularly sounds like a person Flores would love in Dane Brugler of The Athletic’s scouting guide titled “The Beast.”

After seeing what Flores has done for Josh Metellus, Thieneman sounds like a solid pick. Considering the Vikings are still reeling from Cam Bynum’s departure, it sounds like Flores should wrestle the phone away from anyone in the war room to get his guy.

But his future complicates things. If Flores leaves after next year, a new defensive coordinator may have a different vision. Should that happen, Thieneman may not be the perfect fit for Minnesota's scheme the way he is for Flores’. That means the Vikings will have burned a first-round pick on a talented player who they could have taken later in the draft.

TCU’s Bud Clark is one of those players. Brugler notes that, while Clark is a little older at 24, he has versatility as a player who can line up in the slot and stop the run. Clark also has a nose for the ball, grabbing 15 interceptions during his six seasons with the Horned Frogs, and could be a piece to create a deeper safety room.

It should be noted that Flores was unable to receive the head coaching call he was expecting due to his pending league lawsuit. His salary also could keep him in Minnesota, rather than taking a lackluster job with the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, or another downtrodden franchise that rapidly cycles through head coaches. But the philosophy should remain the same whether Flores is staying or not.

Grabbing a cornerback would be a pick that satisfies Flores but also gives the Vikings a premium position at a potential discount. The same would go for edge rusher. Minnesota already has Jonathan Greenard, Dallas Turner, and Andrew Van Ginkel. However, they could easily be in a different situation if they trade Greenard and let Van Ginkel walk at the end of his contract.

The offense could also use help at offensive tackle and wide receiver. That may be enough to keep Flores salivating at the thought of a top safety for another round or two.

Minnesota's defense definitely needs some help, and Thieneman could contribute. But they also must be careful not to lean too heavily into Flores’ demands and build a team that can compete long after he heads to his next coaching destination.