Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins showed real potential for Minnesota in Saturday’s 20-12 preseason loss to New England, getting 36 snaps with the first unit and flashing a frame that screams NFL-ready as a rotational interior defender who can also rush from a variety of angles. Flores’ scheme is leaning into his length and interior versatility, keeping him in the mix alongside established pieces while he continues to refine his hand placement and burst.

The Georgia product openly acknowledged a well-documented flaw—getting locked in early contact with blockers—and called the critique truthful, signaling an uncommon level of accountability for a rookie in a high-stakes locker room. The Vikings have leaned into opportunities for him, pushing him into base-3-4 looks last week with players like Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, signaling belief in his ability to contribute sooner than later.

Three plays illustrated why Flores is intrigued: a power rush that put Garrett Bradbury on his backside, a patient play holding off Michael Onwenu long enough to shed for a 1-yard loss, and a red-zone rush that disrupted Josh Dobbs’ throw. NFL.com once ranked him 31st in production for DTs at the combine but second in athleticism, a combo he’s already validating with a rare blend of length and power. Ingram-Dawkins calls himself still scratching the surface, underscoring a high ceiling if he keeps grinding and staying in his gaps.

From a fantasy perspective, he’s a name to monitor in deeper formats. If Flores continues to unlock his multipositional utility, he could carve out a meaningful rotational bite in run defense and red-zone packages, with upside as a long-term interior disruptor if his technique catches up to his size.