2 Vikings Defenders Highlighted as Hidden Gems

A few years ago, reading that defensive tackle Jalen Redmond and cornerback James Pierre were among the NFL’s most underrated players would’ve been incomprehensible for Minnesota Vikings fans, but that’s the lay of the land in 2026, according to Pro Football Network.

Jacob Infante identified the league’s hidden gems, and Redmond, along with Pierre, got some love.

The Vikings Have 2 Defensive Hidden Gems to Watch

PFSN: Redmond = Underrated

Infante’s list was 12 players deep, and Minnesota accounted for one-sixth of the shoutouts.

“An exclusive rights free agent in 2026, Jalen Redmond’s price tag of just over $1 million this year is a steal for the Minnesota Vikings when you consider how well he played last year. He had 62 tackles and 6.0 sacks in 2025, ranking second among all NFL defensive tackles with 18 splash plays,” Infante explained about Redmond.

“With an 82.8 PFSN DT Impact Score that ranked No. 12 at his position, Redmond is arguably the most underrated defensive lineman in football.”

Redmond has evolved into a surefire fan-favorite over the last two seasons due to unsung and top-notch performance.

Pierre, Too

Vikings fans are just getting to know Pierre; he signed with the club in March and was, in fact, the very first free-agent addition of the cycle.

Infante noted on Pierre, who spent six seasons with Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers, “James Pierre is the only player on this list to have changed teams this offseason, as he signed with the Vikings in free agency. With the Steelers, though, he put together a quietly stellar 2025 campaign.”

“In particular, he broke up 11 passes in 14 games and only allowed a targeted passer rating of 57.2 in coverage. That level of play saw him finish No. 2 in the entire league in PFSN CB Impact Scoring.”

Pierre is in line to perform CB3 duties in Minnesota behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers. Based on his 2025 numbers and efficiency — and the Infante endorsement — he might be able to start as a CB1 or CB2 from time to time.

The Story on Redmond

Former Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needed a strong player evaluation win in the summer of 2024, and Redmond delivered just that.

The 2022 draft class made little impact, while the 2023 group leaned heavily on Jordan Addison to validate its worth. However, Redmond changed the narrative, becoming the kind of scouting success that front offices crave — affordable, effective, and consistently performing on Sundays.

This momentum carried into 2025 as Redmond’s role expanded alongside his production. Vikings fans have seen this rise before: a defender who starts by making plays in specific situations eventually becomes impossible to overlook.

Redmond concluded last season with a 72.7 PFF grade and six sacks from the interior, ranking 11th among NFL defensive tackles. He also led all defensive tackles in pass deflections, providing Minnesota with much-needed disruption from the middle of the defensive line. While he may not yet be a household name, he’s getting closer. A Pro Bowl bid is no longer just a distant dream.

Get to Know Pierre

Last year, the Vikings said “sure” to Jeff Okudah as their CB3. This offseason, they approached the position with greater urgency by acquiring Pierre.

Pierre has a solid background, having played nearly 400 defensive snaps last season with an impressive 86.8 Pro Football Focus grade. Additionally, he spent six years under Tomlin in Pittsburgh, which speaks volumes. If Tomlin trusted him for that long, the Vikings have good reason to believe he can excel in Brian Flores’ defense.

Pierre isn’t coming in as a star; his role is more straightforward: hold up on the outside, tackle effectively, communicate well, avoid blown coverages, and ensure the secondary remains stable if Murphy Jr. or Rodgers miss time.

It makes him a valuable veteran safety net at a position where a single injury can derail an entire defensive strategy. In 2025, Pierre allowed a 41.4 passer rating — a statistic Vikings fans will appreciate after receiving minimal production from Okudah.

If Pierre provides Minnesota with one reliable season, the signing will be justified. If he contributes for two or three seasons, that’s even better. Just don’t expect a late-career emergence into stardom. He’s a dependable veteran cornerback, and for this defense, that might be exactly what they need. He’ll also turn 30 in September.

Both men are in attendance at Vikings OTAs, which began Tuesday.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker