Vikings Make It Official with Their Stud Defender

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Vikings Make It Official with Their Stud Defender

Vikings Make It Official with Their Stud Defender — A Minnesota Vikings defensive back jogs onto the field ahead of a defensive series during NFC Wild Card action on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The moment captures the intensity of postseason play as Minnesota's secondary prepares to handle explosive threats in a tightly contested playoff matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Dustin Baker · Vikings Territory

Wed, Apr 15, 2026 ·

4 min read

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Outside of draft speculation — there's a lot of that — the Minnesota Vikings news cycle (actual news) has been quiet over the last couple of weeks. The franchise snapped that streak on Tuesday, formally locking in defensive tackle Jalen Redmond on an exclusive rights free-agent tender.

Minnesota kept a rising defensive lineman in the fold for 2026.

Redmond isn't going anywhere, and although no one thought he would, his presence is official on the Vikings' 2026 roster .

A Cheap Deal With Bigger Value for Minnesota

Redmond will hope to build on two consecutive breakout seasons.

Jalen Redmond lines up on the defensive line against the Rams during a playoff game. Jalen Redmond — Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jalen Redmond lines up across from the Los Angeles Rams offensive front during the NFC wild card playoff battle, Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium, settling into his stance before the snap as Minnesota's defensive line fights for leverage in a tense postseason matchup with momentum swinging on each possession. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Redmond Makes It Official

Everyone knew that Redmond would return to Minnesota in 2026, so Tuesday served as a formality. NBC Sports ' Charean Williams wrote , "Vikings defensive lineman Jalen Redmond signed his exclusive rights free agent tender on Tuesday, according to the NFL's transactions report. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Panthers out of Oklahoma in 2023."

"Redmond went on the physically unable to perform list during his first training camp, and the Panthers cut him. Redmond played with the Arlington Renegades in the XFL in 2024, and then caught on with the Vikings that summer."

While Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave left the Vikings last month, Redmond is back.

The 2025 Output

Former Vikings boss Kwesi Adofo-Mensah desperately needed a successful player evaluation, and Redmond's performance provided just that two years ago.

Following a 2022 draft that yielded limited impact and a 2023 class heavily reliant on Jordan Addison , Redmond offered the front office something more dependable: a scouting victory that consistently materialized on Sundays.

He maintained that momentum into 2025, delivering consistent production as his role expanded and his impact became increasingly noticeable. Vikings fans have witnessed this progression before — a defender who subtly begins influencing games before ultimately commanding leaguewide attention.

Redmond earned a 72.7 Pro Football Focus grade and recorded six sacks from the interior, ranking 11th among NFL defensive tackles last season. Furthermore, he led all defensive tackles in pass deflections, disrupting opposing offenses on the regular.

While Redmond may not yet be a nationally recognized name, he's not far away from Pro Bowl consideration.

A Long-Term Deal Soon?

Redmond will earn just over a million bucks in 2026, leaps and bounds the best steal-of-a-deal on the Vikings' roster. He's also eligible for an extension at any time, and in the past, Minnesota's brass has reached such agreements before the 11th hour.

The Vikings can acknowledge Redmond's magnificent performance sometime this spring or summer, handing him a large extension. Or, as the club has all the contractual leverage, it could, in theory, wait until the 2027 offseason. When the time comes, Redmond can reasonably ask for $15 million to $20 million per season.

Jalen Redmond grabs a fumble during a preseason game against the Eagles. Jalen Redmond — Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jalen Redmond (61) reacts quickly to a loose football during preseason action, Aug. 24, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, diving to secure the fumble against the Eagles and giving Minnesota an early defensive spark with a momentum-shifting takeaway in the opening quarter. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports.

Our Janik Eckardt on Redmond , "Because Redmond has just two accrued NFL seasons, he was an exclusive rights free agent rather than, for example, Ivan Pace , who was a restricted free agent. The difference is that restricted free agents generally can negotiate with other teams and the franchise can match."

"An exclusive rights free agent can't listen to other offers if he's tendered. Redmond staying around has been the expected outcome. He's now signed through the 2027 season and would be a restricted free agent next year. The Vikings could hand him a long-term extension. Redmond was a key piece in the middle of Brian Flores' defensive line as a true disruptor in his second season with the Vikings."

Dollars to donuts, Redmond might've been the Vikings' second-best player in 2025 next to Justin Jefferson .

"Initially coming into the league as an undrafted rookie with the Carolina Panthers in 2023, he failed to qualify for their 53-man roster and took the long road over the UFL. That's where the Vikings spotted his talent and brought him in for their training camp in 2024," Eckardt continued.

"It was not the first time his football career was delayed. In college at Oklahoma, blood clots cost him some time and later, he opted out during COVID for the same reason. Despite excellent preseason play in 2024, he was initially stashed on the practice squad."

The Evolving DT Situation Next to Redmond

Meanwhile, Minnesota will likely add more DT talent over the next month after offloading the aforementioned Allen and Hargrave this offseason, a pair who logged over 1,300 defensive snaps in 2025.

Jalen Redmond and Alex Williams participate in a defensive line drill during Vikings training camp. Jalen Redmond — Minnesota Vikings defensive linemen Jalen Redmond (61) and Alex Williams (99) go through positional drills at training camp, Jul. 29, 2025, at the team's facility in Eagan, working through repetitions as coaches evaluate depth and competition along the defensive front ahead of preseason roster decisions. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.

From the draft, names like Peter Woods (Clemson), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Caleb Banks (Florida), Lee Hunter (Texas Tech), Christen Miller (Georgia), and Domonique Orange (Iowa State) have activated fans' mock-draft radar.

And from free agency, Christian Wilkins and D.J. Reader remain available.

Redmond turned 27 last month.

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