Vikings status at defensive line

The Vikings had a new-look defensive line for the 2025 season, and they’ve already made some significant changes heading into the 2026 campaign, as well.

Last year’s free agent additions of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave were one-and-done with Minnesota, as the Vikings have released each of them while working through a tricky salary cap situation.

Coming off a stellar season, though, is Jalen Redmond, who led the position group in sacks with a career-high 6.0. His 62 tackles were second among defensive linemen behind Allen’s 68. Vikings Head Coach Kevin O’Connell referred to Redmond, whom Minnesota signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024, as a “bright spot” who consistently showed up through the team’s ups and downs.

The Vikings defensive line also offers other young talent. Levi Drake Rodriguez appeared in 16 games in 2025 after seeing just action in just two as a rookie. The seventh-round draft pick added some juice on defense and special teams alike.

Taki Taimani joined the Vikings as a UDFA in 2024; he appeared in just two games during his second season after playing in seven as a rookie.

Minnesota drafted Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins in the fifth round and utilized him on special teams and defense; he recorded his first career sack when he took down Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel in Week 5 to help the Vikings defeat the Browns.

Elijah Williams may not have gotten much playing time during his debut season, but the undrafted lineman out of HBCU Morgan State University impressed during training camp and the preseason and is someone to keep an eye on this offseason.

Last but not least, the Vikings in January signed Jaylon Hutchings, a former Texas Tech standout who started 17 games for the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders last season. Hutchings led all CFL defensive tackles with 8.0 sacks. He also recorded 39 tackles, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah currently has four defensive tackles in his Top 50, and all of them are grouped closely together: Lee Hunter (34), Peter Woods (35), Caleb Banks (36) and Kayden McDonald (39).

ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., has two defensive tackles in his Top 25: Woods (19) and McDonald (21).

Rankings for interior defenders by Jeremiah, his NFL Media counterpart Bucky Brooks, Kiper, analytics site Pro Football Focus and The Athletic’s Dane Brugler are listed below.

Note: Heights and weights are from each player’s profile on NFL.com (linked for each player’s name).