The Minnesota Vikings‘ first move in free agency didn’t cause a “breaking news” segment on ESPN. It didn’t cause fans to break into celebration. But for Brian Flores, it was an addition that he had been eyeing for years.
Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers signed a two-year, $15 million deal worth $8 million guaranteed on the first day of free agency. Rodgers is smaller, listed at 5-foot-10, 176 pounds on the Vikings’ official website. But that isn’t stopping Flores from scheming ways to implement his new cornerback into his scheme.
“He’s been on my radar since he was at UMass,” Flores said. “When the opportunity presented itself that we could maybe acquire him, I was all in. I’m happy we got him. He’s got great football IQ and acumen. That’s something we’ve stressed.”
Flores runs a complex scheme that requires great mental fortitude, complemented by strong physical traits. He believes that Rodgers has that and can help improve a secondary that did its job in 2024, but could use a youth movement.
Rodgers has played 60 games since being drafted in 2020, but has only started 13 of them. He missed the 2023 season after being suspended due to gambling.
But at 27 years old, Rodgers is hitting his physical prime. If he can digest Flores’ system, he could prove to be a fantastic value signing for the Vikings and help improve the secondary in 2025 and beyond.
