Vikings Continue to Bolster the Defensive Line
The Minnesota Vikings have revamped their defensive group entering the second season with defensive coordinator Brian Flores. While Danielle Hunter’s departure after four Pro Bowls was a gut punch to the organization, the pass-rushing crew could still be one of the team’s strong suits in 2024 following the signings of free agents Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel in addition to drafting Alabama’s star defender Dallas Turner in the first round.
Vikings Continue to Bolster the Defensive Line
Former Texans defender and Minnesota native Blake Cashman was signed and will take over for new Browns linebacker Jordan Hicks, while Shaquill Griffin brings some needed experience to the young cornerback room. The competition in the secondary will be one of the most fascinating storylines in training camp.
One problem, however, remains: The defensive line. At the end of last season, when Flores’s defense fell apart, everyone realized that the group needed more talent, especially at two spots: cornerback and defensive tackle. The former featured various young players who could still become that talented starter, but the future at DT was bleak, with only Harrison Phillips and Jaquelin Roy under contract.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made plenty of additions, but considering fans were dreaming of signing former Dolphins defender Christian Wilkins or new Lions nose tackle D.J. Reader, the acquisition of former first-round bust Jerry Tillery is underwhelming.
The third-year GM acquired another player to bolster the defensive line between the offseason workouts and training camp. On Tuesday, the team announced the signing of former UFL defender Jalen Redmond.
His story is mesmerizing, as he didn’t play football in his first two years in high school until coaches convinced him. Before ever competing in a varsity football game, Memphis offered him a scholarship, and he quickly turned into a five-star recruit (according to 247Sports) after tabulating 33.5 sacks in two campaigns.
In his freshman season, blood-clot problems limited him to three games. After a solid 2019 season, Redmond opted out of the 2020 season because of the blood clot issues and COVID-19. In four seasons and 36 contests, Redmond logged 14 sacks, 31.5 tackles for loss, and 71 total tackles.
As an older prospect in the 2023 draft (he had just turned 24), Redmond went undrafted despite excellent numbers at the scouting combine. The Carolina Panthers snatched the undrafted rookie, but he failed to make the team. He then signed with the Arlington Renegades to compete in the XFL (which later became the UFL).
Redmond registered 4.5 sacks in only four games, ranking him 11th in the entire league. He added five TFLs and 18 tackles.
The defender possesses the talent to make the 53-man roster in Minnesota, but his health will be the key. His competition as an undersized (6-2, 291 lbs) defensive lineman is the veteran, as mentioned earlier, Tillery, who should be considered the frontrunner for a starting gig next to nose tackle Phillips.
In addition to him, the Vikings employ seventh-rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez. Unlike Redmond, he was barely recruited and played against lower-level competition in college. Jonathan Bullard re-signed after two solid years as a rotational player, and sophomore Roy returns for another season. Jonah Williams, known as the guy to play next to Aaron Donald, also joined the franchise in free agency.
Following the draft, the Vikings signed Tyler Manoa and Taki Taimani, two undrafted rookies. A few weeks later, the team surprisingly re-signed 2020 draft choice James Lynch, who missed the entire 2023 season because of a torn ACL suffered in training camp.
Redmond has the talent to make the team and earn snaps, especially against the subpar competition in one of the weakest areas on the roster. He will make his first impression in training camp roughly five weeks after joining the club.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt