Jalen Redmond
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Vikings' defensive end Jalen Redmond has earned a nice bonus from the NFL
The Minnesota Vikings have spent the early part of their offseason trying to find a way to upgrade their roster, while also being conscientious of their salary cap constraints. The front office has already made its most important move of the offseason, as it signed former No. 1 overall pick Kyler Murray to come in and compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting quarterback job.
It wasn’t a stretch to suggest that Minnesota’s 2025 campaign fell apart because of its poor quarterback play. Across the board, the Vikings have a deep team, which includes one of the top defenses in the league. On that side of the ball, Jalen Redmond emerged from out of nowhere to become a key contributor last season, and that led to him earning a nice bonus from the NFL.
Jalen Redmond Earns $1.18 Million Bonus from the NFL
Brian McCarthy
NFL players will receive more than $542 million in Performance-Based Pay for their performance during the 2025 season. The Performance-Based Pay program is a collectively bargained benefit that compensates all players based upon their playing time and salary levels. Top 25 here
Redmond has one of the more unique stories in the NFL. After not getting selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, he was scooped up by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent. He got released early in August, though, and he didn’t get another opportunity until December, when he signed with the Arlington Renegades in the XFL.
During his time with the Renegades, Redmond caught the Vikings’ attention, and he ended up signing with the Vikings. Redmond appeared in 13 games, but he was used mostly as a rotational piece along the defensive line. In 2025, though, Redmond started 15 of the 17 games he played in, racking up 62 tackles, six sacks, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
In the blink of an eye, Redmond went from being an afterthought to being one of the most important pieces of Minnesota’s defense. Right now, he may not be making much money on his current contract with the Vikings, but that will almost certainly change in the near future. And for the time being, he’s received a nice $1.18 million bonus from the NFL as part of their performance-based payment program.
Vikings Hoping Jalen Redmond Continues to Grow in 2026
Jalen Redmond
GettyVikings’ defensive end Jalen Redmond has earned a nice bonus from the NFL
Minnesota’s defensive front is one of the deepest groups in the NFL, and Redmond’s development has played a big role in their rise over the past few seasons. Redmond’s ability to play well against both the run and the pass has turned him into an incredibly valuable player, and he was one of the best bargains in the league last season. As a result, the league went out of its way to ensure he was rewarded for his strong play.
Now, it will be important for Redmond to find a way to build off of his breakout campaign. With defensive coordinator Brian Flores staying in town this offseason, Redmond’s familiarity with his system should only benefit him moving forward. After signing a one-year, $1.075 million deal earlier this offseason, this is a nice little boost for the rising defensive star, and if he can put together another strong year in 2026, he could be in line for a massive contract in the future.