Just In: Fans and insiders in great shock as Vikings’ incredible player has made it clear of his intentions to retire from the club due to a severe…..Read more

Actually, the Vikings’ general manager still has some work to do before he can strengthen the defensive tackle position.

Still, a few of kids are hanging around and bringing something to the table. As a run stuffer for Brian Flores, UDFA Taki Taimani was getting snaps until he went on injured reserve. Levi Drake Rodriguez is on the team, looking for a bigger role, while Jalen Redmond has also shown some potential. Do these three comprise both the here and now and what lies ahead?

Head coach of the Vikings and DT Spot
There was a lot of speculation about acquiring a star defensive lineman throughout the offseason.

Much purple ink was spilled over the prospect of Christian Wilkins’ addition. It was a natural fit because the current Raider and former Dolphin had a relationship with Brian Flores. A coaching relationship, cap space, and an open position were all factors. Perfect fit, wouldn’t you say?

Wilkins’ ultimate destination was, in fact, Sin City. Minnesota made the right decision by passing on the impact defender, as he signed a four-year deal that promises to pay more than $110 million.

In order to turn the corner and spark the pass rush, it was necessary to reinforce the position of the edge rushers. Not only are Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard yelling from the edge, but Jihad Ward and Patrick Jones II, who are larger edge rushers, are supposed to kick inside to provide some pressure in the middle of the field.

Aside from that, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has extended Harrison Phillips during the season to solidify the starting defensive tackle position. Most people recognize the DT1 for his exceptional run defense, which he does by staying put at the line of scrimmage and refusing to budge. Phillips had some success getting after quarterbacks; he has two sacks and four quarterback hits to his name.

The younger men’s contributions are slithering under the surface of these more apparent choices and hesitations.

Levi Drake Rodriguez received high marks after the draft. You might want to read Kevin O’Connell’s comments again. Despite the fact that Mr. Rodriguez’s NFL career has only just begun, he has some admirers among Minnesota’s top leaders.

The athletically skilled defensive tackle Redmond, who skipped the 2023 NFL Draft, is another name that comes to mind. He was welcomed to the NFL by the Carolina Panthers, but he couldn’t stay with the struggling organization. The Vikings have benefited from the Panthers’ blunder. It was not long ago that Redmond was reinstated to the active roster.

Redmond has three tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one quarterback hit in just forty-nine defensive snaps. On the field, he stands out. Redmond, who is somewhat undersized, did very well in the speed and strength tests conducted prior to the selection. Potentially a gem in the rough, he gives the Vikings’ general manager a run for his money.

Taimani is currently out with an injury, but his presence as a towering defensive midfielder proved crucial. One of the most important aspects of excellent run defense is stifling double teams and blocking running lanes. Taimani, who is 25 years old, is useful in that regard. While playing defense for Brian Flores, he has earned 70 snaps.

Getting a strong defensive tackle who can disrupt passing lanes will likely be a top focus for the Vikings this offseason. In the midst of that seeming need, though, three UDFA defensive tackles—Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jalen Redmond, and Taki Taimani—have emerged and could prove to be crucial components going forward.