The Minnesota Vikings have been touted as the best landing spot for quarterbacks with their infrastructure that features a quarterback-friendly coaching staff led by head coach Kevin O’Connell, scheme, and playmakers at the skill positions.
But the defense isn’t far behind as a plus-landing spot for prospects and established players.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is one of the most innovative minds in the game. The Vikings’ (mostly) young secondary could get more help from a revamped pass rush this season too.
And yet, it was O’Connell who may have cost the defense a chance at one of the more productive priority undrafted free agents on the market. More specifically, it was something O’Connell didn’t do that gave another team the final edge.
“With #Broncos seeking athletic LB, during 7th round of draft, Sean Payton called Levelle Bailey not once but twice to convince him to sign as undrafted free agent,” the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson reported on X on May 3. “It worked. Vikings, Bengals & Panthers also wanted Bailey but their head coaches didn’t call.”
All of the teams in rumored pursuit of Bailey are helmed by offensive-mined head coaches, including the Broncos. So it appears Payton’s effort was truly the difference.
Payton drew the ire of many in Vikings circles for claims he exaggerated interest in a draft trade.
He and O’Connell also exchanged pleasantries before the draft as potential competitors for the same quarterback prospects. The Vikings traded with the New York Jets to move up one spot, selecting Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick.
