4 role players the Vikings should consider extending

Jalyn Holmes, defensive end

On the surface, Jalyn Holmes might seem like just another player on the Minnesota Vikings. He will be fighting for the starting defensive end job opposite Danielle Hunter for the 2021 NFL season but a little deeper dive shows he is valuable even if he doesn’t win that position battle.

In 2020, Holmes started nine games for the Vikings and played in 14 of the team’s 16 contests where he had 36 combined tackles with 21 of those being solo and four for a loss. He also had four hits on opposing quarterbacks after transitioning from the interior of the defensive line to the edge.

As Holmes continues to grow into his role with Minnesota and gain experience, he should be able to be relied on for depth as well as situational defense. now that there is talent returning to the defensive line as well as secondary.

What made 2020 special for Holmes was that he played the ninth most defensive snaps of any Vikings player (617) while adding 69 snaps to the special teams unit as well. Versatility, experience, and potential are a great combination to warrant a small investment.

Set to become a free agent in 2022, Holmes will be coming off his rookie deal but is unlikely to fetch a huge price tag unless he has a big 2021 campaign. That makes the idea of an inexpensive extension an appealing one to add depth to a roster that has quite a few young, talented defenders fighting for jobs.