Brian Flores knew there were changes coming to the Vikings’ defense when he accepted the job as coordinator after Ed Donatell was dismissed following a dismal season. Among the moves, veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks was released and cornerback Patrick Peterson departed as a free agent, as did tackle Dalvin Tomlinson.
But there were veterans that Flores clearly valued. Harrison Smith was a candidate to be released before the Vikings agreed to a restructured contract that cut the safety’s base salary to $7.5 million for 2023 and reduced his salary cap hit ($19.1 million to $11.8 million). Flores’ desire to see the Vikings keep Smith wasn’t surprising, considering what the veteran brings to the defense.
