Emerging Vikings Player Named a Top Free Agent Heading into 2026
The Minnesota Vikings have a number of roster decisions to make heading into 2026.
The team currently sits at 4-8 with virtually no chance at making the playoffs this season, but they also have limited options in terms of how to improve the roster next spring because of the amount of money tied to players who are already on the roster.
As a result, Minnesota will be forced to make a number of difficult decisions, including whether or not to re-sign one of the emerging Vikings players who was recently listed as one of PFF’s top free agents in 2026.
Emerging Vikings Player Named a Top Free Agent
It all surrounds Jalen Redmond, who has turned into one of the better players on the defensive side of the ball this year.
Redmond came on strong during portions of the 2024 season, totaling two tackles for loss in Week 13 against the Arizona Cardinals and Week 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. He started two games during that 2024 campaign.
However, things have really taken off in 2025 for Redmond, and it’s come at the perfect time as the former undrafted free agent looks to earn a big pay day this offseason. He’s started 11 games for the Vikings this season, and he’s put together eight tackles for loss along with four sacks. Both totals are career-highs.
As a result, PFF recently ranked Redmond 65th on a list of the 70 best graded free agents heading into 2026. He was the fourth defensive tackle on the list.
“One of the breakout players of the 2025 season, Redmond is earning himself a sizeable future payday with his current play. This season, he has generated 28 total pressures, ranking 19th among interior defenders,” the article said of Redmond.
It’s been a long road for Redmond to get to this point in his career after playing his collegiate ball at Oklahoma. After spending four years with the Sooners, he signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2023.
However, he never saw the field with Carolina during that season because of an injury suffered in training camp, prompting the Panthers to waive him before the year even began. That ended up landing Redmond in Minnesota during 2024.
Ultimately, the decision to bring Redmond back will be a difficult one for Minnesota and could depend on a number of factors. The team has a good chunk of money tied to both Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in 2026, and they have to find a way to free up some cap space before they will be able to bring in any free agents.
We’ll see if Redmond is still playing in purple during 2026, but either way, his next payday will be well earned.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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