Vikings Defender Got a Nice Raise
The Minnesota Vikings just got the bargain of the offseason when they signed two-time Pro Bowler Kyler Murray for only $1.3 million. Perhaps the previous bargain on the roster was defensive tackle Jalen Redmond, who has also been on a minimum contract. The good news for him is that he has earned a raise and just got one.
The NFL has a program in place that fights against inequality and compensates underpaid players for a good season. Players around the league received an additional $542 million (NFLPA) and Redmond is seventh on the list, getting an extra $1,184,087, more than his original paycheck from last season.
On their website, the NFL explains, “Under the Performance-Based Pay program, a fund is created and used as a supplemental form of player compensation based upon a comparison of playing time to salary. Players become eligible to receive a bonus distribution in any regular season in which they play at least one official down. In general, players with higher playtime percentages and lower salaries benefit most from the pool.”
Players who contribute more than they are being paid make the most money. This year’s leader was ex-Vikings corner Nahshon Wright, who delivered a Pro Bowl season for the Chicago Bears and also intercepted J.J. McCarthy twice: The first one was a pick 6 in the passer’s NFL debut and the second one in the rematch, which was actually a solid pass.
Redmond appeared in all 17 games and logged 793 defensive snaps (74%) and another 86 on special teams. After a year as a rotational player in 2024, the 2025 campaign can surely be labeled a breakout season for the 2023 undrafted rookie of the Carolina Panthers.
The defender will be asked to play a major role in the upcoming season. That has always been the case, but was highlighted by the exits of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. The two veterans were shown the door and Redmond, who had already been a full-time player last year, will now presumably be the unquestioned top interior lineman on the roster, barring any significant trade. A rookie is unlikely to unseat him.
The good news is that the former Oklahoma prospect was outstanding in his second season with the Vikings and appears ready to make that jump.
In the passing game, Redmond logged 6 sacks and only trailed edge defenders Jonathan Greenard and Dallas Turner, as well as blitzing linebacker Eric Wilson, in QB pressures on the team (35).
Maybe even better were his contributions in the running game.
PFF analyst Zach Tantillo recently wrote about the two-year Viking, “Redmond emerged as one of the Vikings’ most reliable interior defenders in 2025. He earned a 73.5 PFF overall grade, ranking third among Minnesota defenders. He was especially dominant against the run, where his 30 run stops, 1.46-yard average depth of tackle, and 19.4% positively graded play rate all ranked second-best on the defense.”
Barring any surprise changes, Redmond will get the lion’s share of snaps on Minnesota’s defensive line that hopes to help defensive coordinator Brian Flores to another elite defensive unit.
Redmond was actually an exclusive rights free agent, but the Vikings tendered him to keep him around for a third year. He’ll be a bargain once again, but the Vikings could negotiate a long-term contract with their unsung difference-maker.
The defensive tackle just turned 27 and his development has been one of the Vikings’ best stories over the last couple of seasons. It’s a well-deserved raise for Redmond.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.