There's a lot of work to do in the offseason for the Minnesota Vikings as they try to bounce back from the disappointment of their 9-8 season.
Minnesota will review the roster to see which players will be staying and which will be going. There is one player the Vikings fan base is screaming at the team to make a move on to ensure they don't let walk in free agency: defensive lineman Jalen Redmond.
Pro Football Focus's Zach Tantillo shared a list of each team's secret superstar after the 2025 season, naming Redmond as his choice for the Vikings.
"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."
Jalen Redmond has slowly become a star for the Minnesota Vikings
Redmond first got attention after his great run in the United Football League with the Arlington Renegades in 2024. The Vikings signed him to the team, where he played the 2024 season as a backup.
2025 turned out to be his breakout season, and he became a pivotal piece of the defensive line. In 17 games with 15 of them being starts, Redmond racked up 62 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 11 pressures, eight quarterback hits, six sacks, five pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.
The Vikings have a big decision to make as Redmond is an exclusive rights free agent, which means Minnesota can offer him a one-year contract at the minimum salary. If the Vikings decided not to do that, Redmond would become an unrestricted free agent.
It would be a stunning move if the Vikings did not make an offer to Redmond, as they should bring him back for the 2026 season. They could bring him back for a low price while solidifying their starting lineup up front for another year.
Redmond is going to be a solid starter in the NFL for a long time and for good reason. He's got the combination of being able to rush the pass while stopping the run, a rare combination to see in a defensive tackle in today's game.
The Vikings have to think about the future, as guys like Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave are getting older and their production will start to drop. Redmond is only better, so ensuring he is part of the team's plans is imperative to Minnesota's success.
It appears as though Redmond used to be Minnesota's best-kept secret, but the rest of the NFL is starting to catch up and realize how good he can be.