The Washington Commanders didn't manage to lure Brian Flores to be their next defensive coordinator. And the latest revelations about how desperate the Minnesota Vikings were to keep him around explain why.
Flores was in the head-coaching mix once again, interviewing with the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers about their vacancies. He spoke to the Commanders about the defensive coordinator role, but when no top job was secured, he returned to Minnesota.
Kevin O'Connell was always confident that Flores would stay. The head coach revealed that the Vikings had put together a package they believed would be difficult to turn down.
Vikings pulled out all the stops to keep Brian Flores from the Commanders
He was right. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, the Vikings are reportedly paying Flores more than $6 million per year. Firing general manager Kweis Adofo-Mensah was another selling point, given the apparent disconnect between the front-office leader and the coordinator.
"Multiple sources said that defensive coordinator Brian Flores' unusual decision to let his contract lapse, before signing a new deal that will pay him more than $6 million per season, was based in part on his unease with the direction of the front office. When asked last month if he wanted to remain with the Vikings, Flores noted that he loved working for the Wilfs and with O'Connell, and loved living in Minnesota, but did not mention Adofo-Mensah."Kevin Seifert
The Commanders were never going to spend that sort of money. Flores is probably the highest-paid coordinator in the league after this sort of commitment. If Adofo-Mensah's presence was also a stumbling block, that's been removed as well.
Fortunately for the Commanders, they got the next best thing. Washington moved swiftly to hire Daronte Jones after a highly impressive interview. He was Flores's right-hand man in Minnesota, so expect to see similar aggressive concepts for a defensive unit in desperate need of inspiration.
Flores was always a pipedream. Whether he used the Commanders as leverage is anyone's guess, but more than $6 million annually for a coordinator is astonishing. There is a belief in Jones, and hopefully, Washington will prioritize putting the necessary reinforcements on the field to maximize his time with the club.
Hiring another inexperienced play-caller is risky, of course. But Jones is well-traveled, has learned under some exceptional defensive minds, and is more than qualified for this step up.
As for their pursuit of Flores? The Commanders were always fighting a losing battle. But maybe this provided some inside information to identify Jones as a possible option and strike with conviction to seal the deal.
If it comes off, that would be a win-win for everybody.