ESPN: Will Vikings start Caleb Banks, other rookies on defense?
The Vikings selected four defensive players in the top 100 picks of this spring's draft, a surge of resources that would seem to make the answer obvious. But in Minnesota, the 2026 class must navigate a complicated defensive scheme. It will also need to impress coordinator Brian Flores, who won't be influenced by résumé when making lineup decisions.
"I talk to our guys about it all the time," Flores said. "This is a unique system. It's a demanding system. We've got high standards, high expectations. For some people it's a lot. There's stress and anxiety, but what I want our guys to know is it's definitely an opportunity for growth. There's a lot of calls. There's a lot of techniques. A lot of fundamentals."
IDK, I think the Vikings have a tendency to start veterans and let rookies chip in and grow into their roles, but we're also pretty low on overall roster talent, so they might have to be thrown in there more than the coaches would like.
If Banks is healthy at the start of the season, he will start. Flores loves him.
It's so difficult to break into a BFlo scheme.
My take is pretty consistent with others:
Big Citrus starts sooner than later
Banks gets a slower ramp-up as foot dictates
Golday is primarily ST's this season, unless misfortune strikes with the 1's.
Your guess is as good (or better) than mine with the back 7 rooks. MAYBE the Miami S sees some time with the 1's this year? Maybe.
I think he's primarily STs this season along with Golday.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
I think it's going to be real tempting for Flores to start Caleb Banks early. He's raw and he's going to make mistakes, but there just aren't many people on the planet built like this guy.
"The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it”
MaroonBells wrote:
I think it's going to be real tempting for Flores to start Caleb Banks early. He's raw and he's going to make mistakes, but there just aren't many people on the planet built like this guy.
Fair take...No doubt Mr Banks is the biggest question mark coming out of our draft this year.
Literally and figuratively
Man, what a brass balls draft move that was...
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Does Flores ever start a rookie? IPJ is the only one that I can remember. I think the complexity of executing his Defense is such that they can't afford to have someone that doesn't pick up an assignment.
I personally don't see Banks being far enough away from catching up from what I'm sure will be a reduced TC for him, being extra cautious with that foot, to start Game 1. But IMO if there's any position that BFlo would and might start a rookie guy it would be the DL.
StickierBuns wrote:
I personally don't see Banks being far enough away from catching up from what I'm sure will be a reduced TC for him, being extra cautious with that foot, to start Game 1. But IMO if there's any position that BFlo would and might start a rookie guy it would be the DL.
Yeah, he started Hargrave and Allen and they weren't really bought in last year.
I’d say Orange is the most likely to start, but he’s going to need to pick up multiple positions along the DL too.
KO mentioned about a month ago that Banks will be ready at the start of camp. Let’s hope that holds true. Both of the rookies will need to get their assignments down quickly.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here”
Shakespeare
badgervike wrote:
Does Flores ever start a rookie? IPJ is the only one that I can remember. I think the complexity of executing his Defense is such that they can't afford to have someone that doesn't pick up an assignment.
I'm not sure I buy into the notion that Flores doesn't start rookies. When he was the head coach in Miami he started several rookies. And, as you point out, he started IPJ who wasn't just a rookie in 2023, he was a UDFA.
There just weren't many starting-caliber defensive players to choose from in Minnesota because we traded away so many 2nd rounders. From the time we hired Flores in 2023 up until the 2026 draft, we didn't have a single 2nd round draft pick. 2023 3rd rounder Mekhi Blackmon started a handful of games as a rookie. The highest defensive player taken in 2025 was a 5th rounder. And of course 2024 gave us Dallas Turner (and another who passed). The fact that Turner didn't start was likely due more to the fact that he had two All Pros ahead of him than anything else.
"The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it”
medaille wrote:
IDK, I think the Vikings have a tendency to start veterans and let rookies chip in and grow into their roles, but we're also pretty low on overall roster talent, so they might have to be thrown in there more than the coaches would like.
I wouldn't say we're low on talent at DL, it's that the talent is inexperienced. Banks won't start week 1, but if the foot is healthy he'll definitely rotate in. For all the legendary complexity of Flores' system, sometimes setting a guy down, pointing him at the offense, and saying, "wreck stuff" works too.
Golday will be rotating in for Cashman and Wilson, and possibly some edge.
Jakobe Thomas is likely mostly ST's this year.
Orange is the dude who should start right away because we don 't have another one of him, and he knows what he's doing.
What Flo lacks in experience he'll make up for with youth.
Orange -22
Banks-23
Redmond-27
Dawkins- 23
Taiman- 26
Williams- 23
Loudermilk-28
He'll use everyone ,and send them in waves. They'll make mistakes but hustle, effort and swarming to the ball is gonna be their mantra. It'll show up late in games, this unit won't be gassed.
Mattyman wrote:
What Flo lacks in experience he'll make up for with youth.
Orange -22
Banks-23
Redmond-27
Dawkins- 23
Taiman- 26
Williams- 23
Loudermilk-28
He'll use everyone ,and send them in waves. They'll make mistakes but hustle, effort and swarming to the ball is gonna be their mantra. It'll show up late in games, this unit won't be gassed.
I think LDR plays a role in this as well. I know the Vikings like him, so having him ready could push back Big Citrius and maybe even Banks. The only for sure starter on the DL right now I would say is Redmond. The only problem is Redmond only has one "good" season so far. Lets hope that is the real Redmond. I know they have talked about Dawkins moving over on the Edge, but I don't see that either. My guess would be Game 1 Starters are Redmond, LDR, and TID with a strong rotation coming from Orange, Banks (if ready) and Loudermilk would be my 6th guy if they keep 6.
Vikesrock wrote:
I think LDR plays a role in this as well. I know the Vikings like him, so having him ready could push back Big Citrius and maybe even Banks. The only for sure starter on the DL right now I would say is Redmond. The only problem is Redmond only has one "good" season so far. Lets hope that is the real Redmond. I know they have talked about Dawkins moving over on the Edge, but I don't see that either. My guess would be Game 1 Starters are Redmond, LDR, and TID with a strong rotation coming from Orange, Banks (if ready) and Loudermilk would be my 6th guy if they keep 6.
My bad. I forgot to add him
Levi Drake Rodriguez-25
greediron wrote:
Yeah, he started Hargrave and Allen and they weren't really bought in last year.
I'm trying hard to remove those 2 names from my Vikings mental history. Cost a ton of $ and didn't do jack squat until late in the season when it didn't matter.
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