Andrew Buller-Russ
Each year, several NFL players become household names. While top draft picks are always threats to break out, sometimes an even greater impact can be made by undrafted players or other athletes who had previously been overlooked. The Minnesota Vikings have done a good job of identifying hidden gems, showing they’re willing to give anyone a chance, whether they were drafted highly or not selected at all.
Below, we evaluate a quartet of Vikings players who could enjoy a breakout season in 2026.
Related: 5 Minnesota Vikings Edge Rusher Targets After Trading Jonathan Greenard
Myles Price
Last year the Vikings needed a new kick returner and they turned to undrafted rookie Myles Price. He excelled, ranking third in the NFL with 1,479 kick return yards. But he also fumbled twice and failed to return any to the house, with his longest return going for 61 yards. As Price enters his second season, don’t be surprised if he finds even more success, including his first return touchdown in the NFL.
Jalen Redmond
Jalen Redmond is a player the Vikings spotted by scouting the XFL. Now, he’s a starting defensive lineman for Brian Flores. One might say last season was Redmond’s breakout year after he recorded six sacks. Yet, we predict that there’s even more meat on the bone available for Redmond. We could seven see a Pro Bowl season from the third-year player.
Related: Minnesota Vikings Rookie May Have Revealed Hint About Status of All-Pro
Jay Ward
There is still some question as to whether Harrison Smith may return for a 15th season in a Vikings uniform. Whether he does or doesn’t, chances are, we’ll be hearing a lot more from 2023 fourth-round pick Jay Ward. After playing 63 defensive snaps across his first two seasons, Ward made it onto the field for 248 snaps in his third year. Coach Flores was lining Ward up all over the place in the final three weeks of last season, so there’s a reason to believe he has big plans for the soon-to-be 26 year old in 2026 as well.
Dallas Turner
An obvious choice after the Jonathan Greenard trade thrusts the 17th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft into a starting role, Turner recorded eight sacks in 2025, but he’ll see an increased snap count in his third season. The question is whether he will be able to hold up as a run stuffer, but by reinforcing the defensive interior with Domonique Orange and Caleb Banks, Turner and his rushmate Andrew Van Ginkel should be able to pin their ears back and chase QBs out of the pocket. A Pro Bowl or even All-Pro season isn’t out of the question for the freakish 23-year-old who clocked a 4.46-second 40 Yard Dash coming out of Alabama.
Related: 2026 NFL QB Rankings: From NFL’s Worst Starting QB to the Best
