3 Winners and 3 Losers from the Vikings Season So Far
There’s enough sample for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025 to determine some trends, or in individual cases, winners and losers.
With the Minnesota Vikings’ season 29% complete and a bye winding down, let’s review some winners and losers from the 2025 club out of the gate.
At 3-2, Minnesota likely has to finish 7-5 in the next 12 weeks to reach the postseason, but if there’s a will, there’s a way.
Here’s a look at Vikings winners and losers, with Week 6 action ongoing around the NFL.
Vikings Winners & Losers thru 5 Games of 2025
The sweet and the salty for the purple team.
Winner: Jalen Redmond (DT)
Through five games, Jalen Redmond owns a 75.0 grade from Pro Football Focus — a mark that briefly had him ranked as the NFL’s No. 2 defensive tackle heading into the team’s win over Cleveland in London. After Week 5, that ranking dipped to No. 15, but his early-season dominance still stands out.
Redmond’s pace points toward double-digit sacks, and he’s logging around 60% of defensive snaps — a healthy workload that speaks to talent, not circumstance. Unlike other spots on the roster ravaged by injuries, the Vikings’ interior line has stayed intact. Redmond isn’t playing heavy minutes because of necessity; he’s earning every rep because he’s that good.
Loser: Jeff Okudah (CB)
Right now, Jeff Okudah sits as Minnesota’s third cornerback, but his role is limited — he’s on the field for roughly a third of defensive snaps. When he is out there, the results haven’t inspired much confidence. Opposing quarterbacks have feasted, posting a 118.7 passer rating when throwing his way. It’s almost as if offenses circle his number the moment he checks in.
Behind him, rookie Dwight McGlothern is waiting for a real shot, and based on efficiency alone, he might already be the better option. If Okudah were benched, McGlothern would hop up on the ladder, and few would complain.
And if depth is the worry, Minnesota has options — Zemaiah Vaughn sits on the practice squad, and Fabian Moreau brings veteran stability.
Winner: Jordan Mason (RB)
When the regular season began, Mason was the RB2. About an hour into Week 1, it became apparent that Mason had the chops for RB1. Two games later, Aaron Jones, the Vikings’ primary running back, suffered a hamstring injury.
Any player who snags an RB1 job that soon is an early regular season winner, especially on pace for 1,098 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Loser: Adam Thielen (WR)
Speaking of paces, Thielen is on track for 14 catches and 125 yards this season — this from the man who was supposed to fill the WR2 role while Jordan Addison was suspended for three games.
Instead, Thielen is a total afterthought. He’s been on the field for 40% offensive plays while accounting for 2% of all yards from scrimmage.
Thielen needs a monster run of games to rebound and make Minnesota’s big trade with the Carolina Panthers feel worthwhile.
Winner: Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
Isaiah Rodgers is the best cornerback on the Vikings’ depth chart right now, and the numbers show the competition isn’t close. His 45.7 passer-rating-against is otherworldly, and he logged one of the greatest individual performances in franchise history during a win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3.
Back in March, Rodgers’ addition to the roster from free agency was met by fans with a reaction of, “I guess … that could maybe work?” Now, the guy feels absolutely vital.
Loser: Jonathan Allen (DT)
Through the first month of the season, Jonathan Allen’s production hasn’t matched his paycheck. PFF slots him at a 49.7 grade after four games — a shaky return on a contract worth three years and $51 million. The veteran hasn’t tallied a single sack yet, and while a big game could flip the narrative, Minnesota isn’t paying $17 million a year for “almost.” Guys making league minimum can offer that.
Five weeks in, fans are confused. Allen is a two-time Pro Bowler. When will that side of his resume show up?
The Vikings brought Allen in to wreck pockets and set the tone up front, but the splash plays haven’t arrived. His stat line — 11 total pressures (23rd among defensive tackles), 8 hurries (22nd), and 3 QB hits (10th) — shows a player hovering near impact territory without getting there. It’s okay play, not spectacular, and for what Minnesota’s spending, that won’t cut it.
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