On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings decided that they needed more depth and competition on the defensive line than at receiver. Undrafted free agent receiver Devron Harper was released. That moved opened the roster opportunity for defensive lineman Jalen Redmond.
Jalen Redmond recently wrapped up his season with the Arlington Renegades of the United Football League. In only four games with the Renegades, Redmond collected an impressive 4.5 sacks. He’s often been impressive when given the opportunity. Unfortunately, those opportunities have been scattered.
Redmond signed with Oklahoma as a four-star recruit. As a freshman in 2018, he was limited to a handful of games due to blood clot issues. In 2019, he appeared in 13 of 14 games and collected a team-leading 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Redmond opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID and the blood clot issues. In 2021, limited to eight games due to a knee injury, he had 3.5 sacks and eight TFLs. As a senior in 2022, Redmond wrapped up his Sooner football career with four sacks and 10 TFLs in 12 games.
At 6’2 and 291 lbs, Redmond has the physical profile of a three-technique. He spent much of his college days over or around the center. Despite playing out of position, he was often in the opposing backfield. That’s always a good thing for a defensive lineman. He has intriguing athletic traits and those traits were easy to see at the 2023 Scouting Combine. He was one of the defensive line stars in posting the position group’s top performances in the 40, vertical jump, and broad jump. None of the scattered flashes at Oklahoma or his sparkling combine was enough to get him selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent but didn’t make it out of training camp. To keep his football dream alive, Redmond signed with the Arlington Renegades in December. His somewhat brief play in the UFL earned him an NFL opportunity with the Vikings.
Jalen Redmond would have to be considered an NFL long-shot. As such, he joined the right team. The Vikings boast the following defensive line group.
Harrison Phillips
Jonathan Bullard
Jaquelin Roy
Jerry Tillery
Jonah Williams
James Lynch
Levi Drake Rodriguez
Taki Taimani
Tyler Manoa
Harrison Phillips is the only truly established player. Jonathan Bullard, Jerry Tillery, and Jonah Williams are either approaching or firmly established in the journeyman category. Jaquelin Roy had some fine moments as a rookie last season and looks to take a big step forward this season. James Lynch is coming back from a torn ACL. Levi Drake Rodriguez is a seventh-round rookie. Taki Taimani and Tyler Manoa are undrafted rookies. Redmond definitely joined the right team. He has intriguing traits. He’s athletic. He’s quick. If he can develop and second and third pass rush move. If he can refine a few things. Who knows? There once was a time when John Randle was considered a long-shot for the Vikings roster.
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