Re-grading the Minnesota Vikings 2018 draft class

Fourth Round

Jalyn Holmes – DE

Stats:

• 25 games (9 starts)
• 43 tackles (4 for a loss)
• 1 sack

Grade:

• 0.5/2

Jalyn Holmes has been a big disappointment in his time with the Vikings. He played defensive end at Ohio State where he racked up five sacks and 41 tackles in his college career. He has never been an elite pass rusher, but Minnesota had plans to move him inside and develop him as a three-technique interior disruptor.

With Holmes’ raw talent and the guidance of Vikings defensive line coach Andre Patterson, this decision seemed like a very good one. Holmes was groomed to replace Sheldon Richardson, whose stint with Minnesota only lasted one year. For whatever reason, Holmes just didn’t take to his new position.

He’s rarely seen the field, and when he does, he doesn’t do much with the time that was given to him. In his two seasons at defensive tackle, Holmes had just seven tackles and one sack. He was largely ineffective and he wasn’t close to having the impact the Vikings envisioned he would when they drafted him.

Holmes fared a bit better when he was moved back to defensive end in 2020. While he struggled to get consistent pressure on the passer, he did set a career-high in tackles with 36 and a couple of those were for a loss.

Holmes is one of the bigger busts of the 2018 class and depending on how many young edge rushers the Vikings draft this April, his time with the team could be coming to an end before his rookie contract expires.