Is It Time For Vikings To Give Jalen Redmond A Bigger Opportunity?
Credit: Caean Couto-USA TODAY Sports
After the Minnesota Vikings’ thrilling come-from-behind victory against a gritty Arizona Cardinals team on Sunday, Kevin O’Connell gave his post-game speech. As the Vikings celebrated their tenth win of the season, O’Connell expressed his unwavering faith in his players. This notably included Aaron Jones, who redeemed himself from his two early fumbles with a five-yard touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter.
However, the coolest moment from O’Connell’s speech was when former undrafted free agent-turned-UFL standout Jalen Redmond received his first-ever game ball in the NFL.
We do not care what the narratives are.
All we want is 60 minutes.
Once a week, for however long they'll let us play. pic.twitter.com/VgJD7bFcyA
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 1, 2024
Redmond’s game ball was well deserved, as the former Arlington Renegade snuffed out run plays left and right. His most impactful sequence was in the fourth quarter when Redmond was credited for two consecutive tackles for loss. The first play was simply poor execution by Cardinals left guard Evan Brown (No. 61), who didn’t play with much physicality in this rep, letting Redmond slip past him with little resistance. The second play was a lot more impressive, as Redmond bulldozed his way through center Hjalte Froholdt (No. 72) and left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (No. 70) for his second tackle for loss.
Vikings DT Jalen Redmond had back-to-back TFLs in the fourth quarter yesterday and earned a game ball from Kevin O'Connell.
He's a former UDFA who was playing for @TheUFL's Arlington Renegades earlier this year. Impressive player with a great story. pic.twitter.com/jVf6AnohUc
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) December 2, 2024
Four total tackles with two for loss and a game ball is a pretty good afternoon. Especially as a rotational defensive lineman who was only featured in 18.3% of the Vikings’ defensive snaps during the game. As one of the team’s most impactful players last week, should the Vikings explore the possibility of making Redmond a full-time starter on the defensive line over Jerry Tillery or Jonathan Bullard?
Redmond wasn’t a super well-known prospect heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, but he had an eye-catching performance at the NFL Scouting Combine. Redmond scored above the 75th percentile compared to other interior defensive linemen from his class in the 10-yard split, 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, and the 20-yard shuttle. But despite being a high-level athlete, Redmond went undrafted signing with the Carolina Panthers, where was waived during training camp with an injury settlement.
Jalen Redmond's NFL Combine stats visualized in a spider chart, courtesy of Mockdraftable. pic.twitter.com/iBr0Zt1ssd
— 𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚𝙧 (@TylerTalksBall) December 3, 2024
This is a guy who was willing to cut his teeth in the UFL so he could earn another opportunity on an NFL roster. Redmond suited up for the Renegades, racking up 18 total tackles, 12 pressures, and 4.5 sacks through four games. His UFL contract was terminated after the 2024 season and he signed with the Vikings in June 2024, quickly becoming a training camp and preseason standout in a defensive tackle room that lacked high-end pass-rushing interior defensive linemen.
Former @XFLRenegades DT Jalen Redmond made an impressive #Vikings debut, posting 3 tackles – including a couple of clutch TFL's. @jalen_redmond was a star for Arlington when healthy, dominating the #UFL (18 TKL/5 TFL/4.5 sacks in 4 games).
Spring football works, folks. pic.twitter.com/31cgnFfSLi
— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) August 12, 2024
Even after making a final 53-man roster for the first time in his NFL career, Redmond has yet to show signs of slowing down. Redmond has proven to be very efficient in the limited amount of snaps he’s played in. He’s earned an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 87.4, which is the highest grade among all players on the Vikings this season. So what’s preventing Redmond from being a starter?
It’s purely speculation, but my theory is that Redmond has been so good in his limited role that Brian Flores and the defensive coaches don’t want to risk seeing his efficiency decline in a larger role. Redmond averages 11.88% of defensive snaps played per game, which essentially means he’s the guy the Vikings sub in when Jerry Tillery or Jonathan Bullard need a breather for a play or two. While every-down starters have to conserve their energy throughout the game, Redmond can afford to go all-out on every play he draws in for.
Additionally, Minnesota’s interior defensive line has been playing much better than people thought they would coming into the season. It’s not like the trio of Harrison Phillips, Bullard, and Tillery make up an extremely formidable defensive line on paper. Outside of Phillips, who is an above-average nose tackle, you have a first-round bust in Tillery and a journeyman veteran in Bullard. Yet, for whatever reason, the trio works much better as a collective than their individual talents would suggest. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery are both unrestricted free agents this offseason, and Jalen Redmond could very well be a part of the Vikings' long-term plans on the defensive line. #SKOL pic.twitter.com/oLXtxGER8w
— 𝙩𝙮𝙡𝙚𝙧 (@TylerTalksBall) December 3, 2024
That being said, the Vikings should increase Redmond’s snap percentage well above his 12% average. Redmond’s recent production, especially as someone who came in as a former UFL player, should be rewarded. O’Connell did say that Redmond’s game ball was “the first of many to come,” so that may be an indication that he is a part of Minnesota’s long-term plans on the defensive line. Considering that Bullard and Tillery will both be unrestricted free agents after the season, O’Connell’s words may end up being prophetic, and Redmond could receive a big bump in playing time in the not-so-distant future.
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