The Minnesota Vikings are making waves this offseason, signing back one of their own who turned heads with his potential – Jalen Redmond. With a roster boasting 26 free agents, the Vikings made a savvy move by securing Redmond for 2025, as announced on their official social media.

Redmond’s journey to the Vikings’ locker room is the kind of underdog story that NFL dreams are made of. After not hearing his name called on draft day in 2023, the defensive lineman out of Oklahoma signed on with the Carolina Panthers.

His stay there was short-lived, as he was waived in August. But Redmond’s fire wasn’t extinguished.

He found a spark with the Arlington Renegades in the XFL, showcasing the kind of play that got him on the Vikings’ radar.

By June of 2024, Redmond was donning the purple and gold, proving his worth in preseason and clinching a spot on the Vikings’ final 53-man roster. He wasted no time making an impact, recording a sack in his very first regular-season appearance against the Houston Texans in Week 3. From then on, his workload only increased, culminating in two starts in Weeks 13 and 14.

Looking forward to 2025, the competition on the defensive line promises to be fierce, but Redmond is well-positioned to vie for significant playing time, perhaps even a starting role. His journey from undrafted free agent to a key piece in Minnesota’s defensive puzzle speaks volumes about his resilience and talent. The Vikings are banking on that grit as they look to solidify their interior defense, potentially making Redmond a cornerstone for years to come.