NFL Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings Rumors: Interest in CB Brandon Flowers Is a Positive Sign

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By @bradberreman24

Brandon Flowers, Minnesota Vikings

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

After attempting to trade him and finding no takers, the Kansas City Chiefs released cornerback Brandon Flowers on Friday. He automatically became one of the best players available, and reported immediate interest from three teams confirmed that status.

One of the three teams to reportedly show interest in Flowers within hours of his release was the Minnesota Vikings, who are apparently still looking to add pieces to their secondary after an atrocious showing in 2013. But is Flowers a good fit?

Flowers struggled last year, primarily because the Chiefs transitioned to a different defensive scheme and he frequently played in the slot. As a smaller corner (5’9″, 187 lbs), Flowers is better suited to playing primarily on the outside and was often overmatched physically playing inside. Advanced statistics back up his decline, with Pro Football Focus ranking Flowers as their 87th-best cornerback last year after ranking him No. 7 in 2012.

The Vikings are virtually certain to be more aggressive in pass coverage this year, after employing an antiquated Cover-2 scheme under their previous two head coaches. That would not seem to suit Flowers based on his struggles last year, but at this point I trust the new coaching staff to set players up to succeed in a way their predecessors did not. Any interest the Vikings have in Flowers certainly comes with the blessing of head coach Mike Zimmer, and presumably a plan for how he would fit into their defensive scheme. The Vikings will have plenty of competition for Flowers’ services, and it’s still unclear if they have enough interest to take part in any potential bidding war, but any move that further minimizes Josh Robinson’s role is a good thing.

Brad Berreman is a Senior Writer at Rant Sports.com. Follow him on Twitter. 

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