Last season, the Minnesota Vikings clawed their way to a 9-8 record, winning their last five games in a row. While the offense struggled, the defensive side of the ball played very well, finishing third in total defense. This was spearheaded by a few unsung heroes who are looking to have an even bigger impact in 2026. According to Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports, defensive tackle Jalen Redmond is in line for a big season, as Pereles listed him as an under-the-radar player entering 2026. Here is what he had to say:Last year, the Vikings brought in bigger names — Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave — only for Redmond, a former undrafted free agent who spent time in the XFL, to outplay both of them by a wide margin. He racked up six sacks and finished 11th in PFF’s run defense grades among interior defensive linemen. His disruptive abilities against both the run and the pass are impressive.Redmond was a pleasant surprise last season, and with the departure of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, Redmond is in line for significantly more playing time alongside rookie Caleb Banks. Redmond is on a one-year deal, and should he play at the level of last season or even more, he could be due for quite the payday next offseason. This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Which Vikings DL is flying under-the-radar heading into 2026?
Content Source: Yahoo News
Image Credit: Getty Images
All rights to the news content and images belong to their respective copyright owners.