Dec 26, 2021; Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) leaves the sphere after the sport towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at GEHA Area at Arrowhead Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports activities
This week, Professional Soccer Focus crammed some column house throughout the lull in league exercise with an All-Undrafted group that included a few undrafted Vikings.
The duty was to construct a full group from the perfect undrafted gamers, and two undrafted Vikings made the minimize. Each had been on the defensive facet of the ball, the place Brian Flores makes a behavior of getting the perfect out of gamers that perhaps weren’t fancied a lot elsewhere.
Vikings Discover Actual Worth from the UDFA Pile
The boys in query are defensive lineman Jalen Redmond and cornerback James Pierre. The Vikings picked up neither as a rookie, however got here to Minnesota after stops elsewhere. After all, Pierre is a brand new signing and has but to tug on the Vikings purple.
Inexperienced Bay Packers working again Josh Jacobs (8) breaks free for a landing run as Minnesota Vikings defensive sort out Jalen Redmond (61) pursues from behind at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. The NFC North matchup unfolded on Dec 29, 2024, with Jacobs showcasing his velocity and imaginative and prescient throughout the third quarter. Redmond’s effort to shut floor highlighted Minnesota’s defensive urgency regardless of the tough sequence. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs.
The Vikings duo is in good firm alongside Jaylen Warren, Jakobi Meyers, Alex Singleton, and Keisean Nixon, all of whom made the group. At one time, this was the kind of factor that undrafted Vikings linebacker Ivan Tempo Jr would have gotten recognition for, however his star has fallen over the past couple of seasons.
Jalen Redmond
It was a longer-than-usual highway for Redmond to succeed in the NFL. Undrafted in 2023, he was picked up by the Carolina Panthers however by no means made the ultimate roster. After a very good season in what was then the XFL, the Arlington Renegades caught the eye of the Vikings, and he was introduced in for the 2024 offseason program. He once more didn’t make the roster however was signed to the observe squad.
Redmond’s large likelihood got here in Week 3 of that season, when he was referred to as as much as the lively roster and recorded his first profession sack. He has barely appeared again and has not solely turn into an everyday starter in 2025 however arguably the perfect and definitely essentially the most dependable participant on Flores’s protection. His potential to maneuver alongside the road can also be beneficial and highlighted by PFF as a key motive they picked him.
One of many NFL’s most versatile defensive linemen. Redmond has expertise throughout the defensive entrance, with snaps all over the place from nostril sort out to edge defender. Though he didn’t set up himself till age 25, he has rapidly turn into a reliable contributor. Consecutive seasons with PFF grades within the 70.0s spotlight each his consistency and positional worth.
Though he’s 27, he’s comparatively younger in his profession, and I’m personally excited to see extra progress from Redmond as he enters his third season.
James Pierre
James Pierre is an intriguing new addition to the Vikings group for 2026. It’s not a flashy signing however doubtlessly a really shrewd one. PFF’s paragraph explaining his inclusion within the group sums it up properly.
Nov 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) celebrates with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) after scoring a landing towards the Cincinnati Bengals throughout the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Barry Reeger-Imagn Photographs
Pierre has proven the standard when on the sphere, however there hasn’t been sufficient amount to get a real learn on him as a participant.
Pierre noticed restricted motion throughout his sixth NFL season in Pittsburgh however seems poised for a bigger position with Minnesota in 2026. Regardless of his modest workload, he delivered elite outcomes. Pierre earned the best PFF protection grade amongst NFL cornerbacks (88.9) and allowed simply 16 receptions throughout 255 protection snaps.
The 2026 season brings a giant alternative for Pierre, who has been within the league since 2020, has at all times stayed wholesome, however has by no means had a giant position on a protection except Minnesota makes a big signing (or two) to the secondary between now and the beginning of the season.
There must be loads of alternatives for Pierre. If he can maintain his stats wherever close to final season via triple the workload, then the Vikings could have made a wonderful signing.
Proud UK Viking. Household Man. Take pleasure in writing about my group. Away from soccer an advocate for autism acceptance.
