Vikings Say Goodbye to Young Receiver, Find Immediate Replacement Along D-Line
Credit to Aaron Wilson for the news on both fronts.
The reporter with KPRC2 passed along the word that the Vikings have moved on from UDFA receiver Devron Harper. Doing so opens a roster spot that has been immediately filled. Per Wilson, a defensive tackle is getting added: “#Vikings to sign defensive tackle Jalen Redmond @OU_Football and #Panthers per a league source.”
Vikings Say Goodbye to Harper and Hello to Redmond
Defensive tackle is one of the most uncertain spots on the roster. Receiver, in contrast, is being led by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, so there’s not nearly the same level of concern.
Moving on from Harper signals that his chances of making the roster were essentially zero. Brandon Powell has the greatest chance of taking over at WR3 and there’s internal optimism about returning depth guys like Malik Knowles and Thayer Thomas.
Plus, Jeshaun Jones is pulling in some major money — relatively speaking — so it makes sense that someone other than the well-paid UDFA got cut.
The appeal with Jalen Redmond is that he’ll increase the competition at one of Minnesota’s thinnest positions. Harrison Phillips is the only guaranteed starter. After Horrible Harry is a group consisting of Jerry Tillery, Jonathan Bullard, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jonah Williams, and a few other options.
Redmond is a bit undersized, listed at 6’3″, 292. The build makes it seems like he’s more of a 3T, someone who can penetrate on passing downs. He played his college ball at Oklahoma and was pretty disruptive while there. His final season in 2022 involved picking up 23 tackles, 4 sacks, and 10 tackles for a loss. In his college career, Redmond had 14 sacks and 31.5 tackles for a loss.
Coming into the draft, Redmond put up a 4.81 forty and 27 reps on the bench press, so he boasts some impressive speed and strength. He got his NFL start with the Panthers in 2023 but didn’t get any playing time. Injuries contributed toward undermining his rookie season.
Carolina signed him as a UDFA for three years and $2.715 million. The $115,000 in guaranteed money suggests that they held him in high regard. He’ll now look to carve out a role for himself in a Vikings defense that needs help from the 3T spot on passing downs.
Redmond is 25.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, Sports Reference CFB, and Over the Caphelped with this piece.
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.