Don’t Forget a Demoted Vikings Defender
The Minnesota Vikings entered the offseason with a clear emphasis on strengthening the trenches. Both the offensive and defensive lines saw some reinforcements arrive in the fourth offseason of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah calling the shots.
Unsung Vikings Defender Shouldn’t Be Overlooked
In fact, he hinted at a new defensive line in February. “To play January football, there’s a certain way you’ve got to play. You’ve got to be able to control the ball, and be able to get after the passer with just four. We need to get better and will,” Adofo-Mensah told the media at the annual draft combine.
Well, and then he went out and acquired not just one but two former Pro Bowl linemen. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave replace Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard from last year’s crew, and that’s a massive upgrade.
Tillery and Bullard formed the groundwork of Harrison Phillips’ supporting cast. Next to them, pass-rushing specialist Jihad Ward as well as run-stuffer Taki Taimani entered the game early in the season. One guy, however, passed all but Phillips and Bullard towards the end of the year: Jalen Redmond.
Redmond had signed with the Vikings about a year ago following the end of the UFL season in which he played in four games, registering 4.5 sacks. A 2023 undrafted rookie, Redmond initially signed with the Carolina Panthers but didn’t make the roster and was waived early in training camp. After his stint with the Arlington Renegades in 2024, Redmond joined the Vikings last offseason.
Early in the season, he was behind the aforementioned players, but Taimani suffered an injury halfway through the year, and Redmond was suddenly in the rotation. His role grew more as the season went on, and he even snatched Tillery’s starting spot later in the year. Redmond started two contests.
In 13 games (two starts), Redmond produced a sack, 18 tackles, six tackles for loss, and batted two passes. He was a rare playmaker along Minnesota’s defensive line. The first-year Viking earned the second-highest grade of all players on his team from PFF with at least 100 snaps.
Now with Allen and Hargrave on the team, it remains to be seen how much the reserves will actually contribute, although head coach Kevin O’Connell seems to think they will play a ton.
O’Connell said ahead of the draft, “I also think what these moves allow us to do is really see guys like Levi [Drake Rodriguez], and Jalen [Redmond], and Taki [Taimani]. These guys are really in a position to make our team but be in impactful depth positions that can get some high-quality snaps for you throughout the game, throughout different sequences of the season that allow you to keep those other guys fresh.”
In that draft, the club didn’t add any high-profile linemen. Instead, only fifth-rounder Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins qualifies as a defensive lineman. He might be a year or two away from making an impact, and even if he does, he will replace Jihad Ward, not Redmond.
Redmond should still see plenty of playing time as defensive tackles are more efficient the fewer snaps they play, and of the three starters, two have already celebrated their 30th birthday, and Phillips is just seven months away. Furthermore, Hargrave and Allen both come off injury-riddled seasons and shouldn’t be expected to last 700 or 800 snaps anymore.
The 26-year-old might not play as much of a role as he hoped for in February and early March, but he can still be a meaningful player for the squad and help the Vikings win football games in the upcoming season. Redmond is playing on a cheap one-year contract worth only $960,000. If he can replicate what he did in 2024, that’s a bargain.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.