The Carolina Panthers got the first shot at seeing what defensive lineman Jalen Redmond could do. Injuries dented any chance he may have had with the franchise, but being cut loose only made him more determined to succeed.
And when that opportunity arrived with the Minnesota Vikings, Redmond was ready to seize it.
After being used as a rotational presence during his first season, Redmond came of age during the 2025 campaign. The Vikings' scheme is benefiting him greatly, and the undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma is taking his game to new heights on the league's most feared defense through five weeks.
Jalen Redmond seized his moment after Carolina Panthers chance fell flat
Redmond is the perfect foil for Brian Flores' blitz-happy scheme. He's big enough and strong enough to absorb double teams. He plugs gaps against the run while also freeing up space for others to do damage. But he is also making plays himself.
The hands are violent. The explosiveness off the snap is eye-catching. And the added experience Redmond has accumulated makes him a playmaking force.
And all the Panthers can do is wonder what might have been.
Like the Vikings, defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero deploys a 3-4 front. Redmond looks tailor-made for that, but the Panthers never really got to see it for themselves.
As a rookie, he was placed on the physically unable to perform list after a couple of months. Redmond was waived with an injury settlement soon after, and everyone moved on.
Jalen Redmond is dominating for the Vikings, and nobody saw it coming
Redmond saw this as a bump in the road. The Vikings took a chance on him, and a phenomenal surge later, he is now an integral part of the team's plans.
His 91.0 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus ranks first league-wide. Redmond's 77.8 overall grade ranks 10th, and though these marks can sometimes be criticized, it's a fair reflection of his early-season dominance.
Would things have been different had Redmond gotten a clear run of luck on the injury front in Carolina? Perhaps, but for the player, everything happened for a reason.
But it's fun to think about what this version of Redmond could do alongside Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown.
Alas, it wasn't to be. But Redmond deserves an enormous amount of credit for picking himself up off the canvas and galvanizing his career when hope was fading rapidly.
Many undrafted players who get hurt during their initial transitions are quickly phased out. Redmond was in real danger of suffering the same fate, and it's taken tremendous resolve to reach this point.
Now, he's one of the NFL's best interior linemen. And he deserves all the praise coming his way.
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