Report: Vikings Standout Free Agent to Return in 2026

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Report: Vikings Standout Free Agent to Return in 2026

Report: Vikings Standout Free Agent to Return in 2026 — Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Brian O'Neill and guard Blake Brandel work through side-by-side reps during minicamp midway through Jun. 10, 2025, at the Minnesota Vikings Training Facility in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The linemen focused on timing, footwork, and communication as the offense sharpened fundamentals during offseason practices. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn–Imagn Imagess.

Dustin Baker · Vikings Territory

Wed, Jan 7, 2026 ·

5 min read

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If you've enjoyed Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jalen Redmond 's breakout over the last two seasons, stick around because there will be more in the Twin Cities.

Reports indicate Minnesota will retain Redmond after his breakout year, maintaining continuity on the defensive front and avoiding a risky replacement.

KSTP's Darren Wolfson said this week that Redmond will be re-signed by the Vikings, which served as confirmation of what most fans had assumed.

Redmond's Return Would Stabilize the Vikings' iDL

There won't be much mystery about Redmond; he'll grow where he was planted.

Jalen Redmond gets ready on defense during a Vikings playoff game. Jalen Redmond Re-Signs With Vikings. — Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jalen Redmond lines up at the line of scrimmage midway through Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during the NFC wild card playoff matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Redmond handled interior responsibilities as Minnesota's defense matched intensity with postseason urgency on the national stage. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas–Imagn Images.

Redmond to Stay with Vikings, Says Wolfson

Speaking with SKOR North this week, Wolfson left nothing to the imagination regarding Redmond's impending free agency. The guy will be back in purple.

"Bottom line, Jalen Redmond is going to be back with the Vikings. Vikings fans shouldn't be worried about losing him in March in free agency," Wolfson said .

Redmond will be an " exclusive rights free agent, " as he was not drafted by an NFL team, meaning the Vikings will have an easier path to re-sign him. He was never scheduled to hit the open market like other Vikings players in March. Still, Wolfson's comments are assuring. Redmond isn't going anywhere.

Impossible to Let Him Walk

To be clear, Redmond leaving was never a dire concern. He served as the Vikings' best and most consistent defensive player in 2025 and might've been the second-most productive player overall, behind Justin Jefferson .

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has infamously failed to draft rookies with a normal rate of return, as evidenced by the 2022 NFL Draft and the 2023 class, aside from wide receiver Jordan Addison . So, when he stumbled on a player like Redmond, a cast-off who rekindled his career in the UFL , Adofo-Mensah pounced, and Redmond has turned into the next big thing in the Twin Cities.

Adofo-Mensah cannot let Redmond walk with so few success stories elsewhere on the roster. Retaining him is a no-brainer. He's an Adofo-Mensah claim-to-fame.

The Production

Redmond has turned into one of the NFL's most effective interior defenders, even if his name hasn't broken through nationally yet. He ended 2025 with a 72.7 grade from Pro Football Focus , complete with 6 sacks, which ranked 11th in the league among all defensive tackles. Redmond also checked in fourth in batted passes, one of his specialties.

Entering 2025, the assignment was simple for the UFLer: confirm that 2024 wasn't a fluke. Redmond totally cleared that bar — and then some. His play held steady week after week, and the production followed. At that point, the conversation shifted from "solid contributor" to genuine leaguewide respect.

He's a true rags-to-riches story in NFL-speak, and Vikings fans often consider Redmond their ultimate unearthed gem, mainly because casual football fans still don't know him.

Of course, his contract won't be as cheap as it has been. Redmond should command north of $12 million per year, with room to climb well beyond that if the market moves his way. The issue he runs into is his status as an exclusive rights free agent, limiting his leverage when negotiating.

Jalen Redmond and Eric Wilson react during a Vikings road game. — Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jalen Redmond reacts alongside linebacker Eric Wilson during first-half action midway through Dec. 21, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The two defenders exchanged words between snaps as Minnesota's defense worked through early-game adjustments on the road. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta–Imagn Images.

Star Tribune 's Andrew Krammer noted on Redmond last week, "Winner of 'Most Improved' goes to … Defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. The 26-year-old Redmond was two months removed from the XFL's Arlington Renegades in 2024 when he was thrown out of a Vikings practice in his first training camp for fighting."

"A year later, Redmond has been the best interior defender on a team that spent about $36 million guaranteed to sign veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave . A relative bargain at $960,000, Redmond has been one of the most disruptive defensive tackles in the NFL. Coaches praise Redmond's combination of power and quickness, which allows him to play in wider alignments (over offensive tackles) when the Vikings frequently turned to a 6-2 front to counter jumbo packages."

Pro Bowl Chatter Next?

Regarding his 2025 campaign, Redmond did enough to command Pro Bowl attention, but his name just isn't out there yet. Failing to earn a Pro Bowl nod will keep his contractual price a bit lower, and if Redmond's production persists or improves, he'll start to get Pro Bowl nods in 2026. He's 26, so he has enough time to make a name for himself.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah stands on the sideline during a Vikings game. — Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah watches from the sideline midway through Dec. 21, 2025, during a matchup with the New York Giants as the season entered its later stretch. Adofo-Mensah observed game flow and personnel usage while continuing to oversee Minnesota's roster direction. Mandatory Credit: VikingzFanPage–Twitter.

In 2025, defensive tackles Leonard Williams ( Seattle Seahawks ), Jalen Carter ( Philadelphia Eagles ), and Quinnen Williams ( Dallas Cowboys ) snagged the Pro Bowl spots. There's a small chance that Williams or Carter reaches the Super Bowl, leaving a different player in their spot. With any luck, that'll be Redmond.

The Vikings will start the offseason about $30-$40 million over the salary cap , a sharp contrast compared to last year.

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