Not every player is a rookie sensation. For some, the journey takes longer, and the grind to become an established player at the NFL level can be tough.
There are three potential Vikings breakout candidates for this year who I believe have the potential to step up into an increased role.
3 Potential Vikings Breakout Candidates in 2025
I’m looking past last year’s rookie class and at players who have been in the league for at least two years and could be set to emerge in Year 3 or later. This is similar to Josh Metellus, who only started to make serious strides in purple in his third season before becoming one of the most important men on Brian Flores’ defense in the last two seasons.
Jalen Redmond (DT)
The Vikings signed Jalen Redmond, a player who failed to make the grade at the worst team in football — the Carolina Panthers. Expectations were low when he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023, followed by a stint in the XFL with the Arlington Renegade. Redmond battled his way onto the roster in Minnesota and onto the field, including a couple of games as a designated starter, as his role increased later in the season.
Undoubtedly one of the surprise success stories of last season, Redmond is an intriguing prospect for the 2025 season.
Across 13 games, which saw Redmond play 208 defensive snaps, he had 18 tackles, including 6 tackles for loss and 1 sack, while also having 2 pass deflections. There was always talent in Redmond, but his college career at Oklahoma was disrupted by blood clot issues, which saw him miss two seasons early in his collegiate career.
With those problems seemingly behind him and a slight tweak in position from defensive end to the interior, Redmond impressed on his way to a 77.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last season. If Redmond can keep up that level of play in an extended role throughout a 17-game season, Kevin O’Connell’s team will have found a diamond in the rough for their defense.
Mekhi Blackmon (CB)
Having shown some promising signs in his rookie season, Mekhi Blackmon missed all last season after suffering a season-ending knee injury at the beginning of training camp. At this time, with all the cornerbacks at the top of the Vikings depth chart last season out of contract, Blackmon is arguably at the top of the depth chart in Minnesota right now.
Additions will be made, but Blackmon could still be poised for a significant role in the rotation, if not as a starter. Flores likes to get lots of defensive backs onto the field.
Blackmon was a third-round pick in 2023 and played in 15 games, including three starts in his rookie season. He looked to have a chance to push for a starter’s role in 2024, with the Vikings not bringing in any major names for the CB position as training camp started. Injury stopped any chance of that, and Minnesota would eventually sign veteran Stephon Gilmore to a one-year deal. Blackmon should be eager to make up for lost time and, at the very least, prove himself part of the solution for the Vikings’ CB problem.
Theo Jackson
Flores’ defense could be set to lose both of its starting safeties, with Harrison Smith possibly considering retirement and Cam Bynum at the end of his rookie contract and looking at a payday — in Minnesota or elsewhere. Metellus could drop back into one of those two roles, but I’d expect him to keep the hybrid role in defense, which he’s had so much success with. That leaves the Vikings looking for answers at the safety position.
The answer could already be on the roster, with Theo Jackson and Jay Ward waiting in the wings for the purple and gold team.
The more experienced Jackson, who came into the league a year before Ward, would seem to be the next man up. Jackson has enjoyed more playing time and has a couple of interceptions to his name.
PFF gave him a very respectable 79.2 overall grade for his efforts in 2024. It’s a big jump to a starter role, but Jackson should at least be pushing for more playing time this season.
