One Viking Got a Pay Bump on Monday
The NFL has a new performance-based payment system — as in: after the fact of regular contracts — and Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jalen Redmond got in on the fun this week.
Redmond’s breakout season produced another reward for Minnesota’s rising defender.
Redmond continued his career breakout last season, and he received an extra $1.18 million for his troubles.
League Formula Hands Redmond a Boost
It’s more praise and accolades for Redmond.
NFL Payment Program Awards Redmond $1.18M
The program has flown under the radar, but it is real. The 33rd Team‘s Ari Meirov tweeted Monday, “The NFL announced their top 25 performance-based payouts, with former Bears CB Nahshon Wright leading the way. Performance-based pay is a system the league has in place for players with high snap counts and low salaries.”
Of the 25 recipients, Redmond’s $1.18 million payout ranked seventh-most.
What Is the Payment Program?
The program is new and a bit complex. It will pay $542 million to players who earned performance-based compensation. Here’s how the NFL describes the formula:
Performance-Based Pay is computed by using a player index (“Index”). To calculate the Index, a player’s “PBP Playtime” (defined as the player’s regular season total plays played on offense, defense and special teams, divided by the number of plays in which the player with the most total combined plays participated on that team) is divided by his ‘PBP Compensation’ (defined as each player’s regular season full salary, including his prorated portion of signing bonus, and earned incentives).
Each player’s Index is then compared to those of all other players on his team to determine the amount of his Performance-Based Pay. If a player’s full season salary is less than the CBA Minimum Salary for a player with seven or more Credited Seasons, additional salary will be imputed to that player so that his salary is equal to the Minimum Salary for a player with seven or more Credited Seasons (i.e., $1.255M for the 2025 season).
In essence, if an unsung player exceeds his expected snap count and the efficiency is there, he gets paid. Redmond was a 2025 poster child for the program.
Redmond’s 2025 Performance
Ex-Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needed a clear win in player evaluation, and Redmond provided just that at the perfect time. After the underwhelming 2022 draft class and the 2023 group’s reliance on Jordan Addison, Redmond offered the front office something reliable: a scouting success that translated directly into Sunday stardom.
He solidified that success in 2024, proving his previous year wasn’t a fluke but a sign of sustained impact. Vikings fans are familiar with this type of player — the overlooked defender who starts disrupting games before gaining league-wide recognition.
The numbers back up what the film shows. Redmond earned a 72.7 Pro Football Focus grade and recorded six sacks from the DL interior, ranking 11th among all NFL defensive tackles. Furthermore, he led all defensive tackles in pass deflections, consistently disrupting quarterbacks.
Simply watching the game film confirms Redmond’s mean presence, showcasing his impeccable timing. While still relatively unknown outside of Minnesota, Redmond’s impact is clearly recognized within the state.
Path Cleared at DT for Redmond
Meanwhile, Redmond’s stock has continued to soar this offseason, believe it or not. The Vikings released two of their starting defensive tackles — Redmond’s position — offloading Jonathan Allen, who later signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, and Javon Hargrave, who did the unthinkable by joining the Green Bay Packers last week.
Redmond certainly didn’t need a nudge for more playing time — he was going to get it regardless, based on his 2024 and 2025 efficiency — but subtracting Allen and Hargave from the defensive line only paved the way further for Redmond’s ascension.
Our Janik Eckardt on Redmond in 2026: “The defender will be asked to play a major role in the upcoming season. That has always been the case, but was highlighted by the exits of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen.”
“The two veterans were shown the door and Redmond, who had already been a full-time player last year, will now presumably be the unquestioned top interior lineman on the roster, barring any significant trade. A rookie is unlikely to unseat him.”
Minnesota may also draft a defensive tackle early in April’s draft; players like Peter Woods (Clemson), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Caleb Banks (Florida), and Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) are expected to fly off the draftboard before the end of Round 2.
Redmond, a UFLer as recently as two years ago, turned 27 last week. He’s now a bit richer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.