The Minnesota Vikings signed 20 undrafted free agents after the draft, and will have all summer to determine who, if any, deserve a spot on the 53-man roster or the practice squad.
Now, the full guarantees for those UDFA’s have been revealed, and will give a good indication for who exactly the Vikings project as roster candidates. There’s no assurance that any of these players will make the team, but three players got a significant guarantee, hinting at their potential.
Wide receiver Dillon Bell, offensive tackle Tristan Leigh and defensive lineman Monkell Goodwine all received $247,500 in guarantees from the Vikings per Over The Cap. That’s nearly $100k more than any other UDFA’s, and represents a strong endorsement from the Vikings. So who are these three players that Vikings fans might see on Sunday this season?
Three UDFA’s Were Given a Strong Vote of Confidence from the Vikings Brass
Bell, a receiver out of Georgia, notched 119 catches for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns over four seasons with the Bulldogs. At 6-foot and 200-pounds, he’s built like a running back, and could offer some help in the return game and on special teams for Minnesota.
At Georgia, Bell played running back, as well as inside and out at receiver. In 2023, he finished the season with 25 carries, 157 yards and two rushing touchdowns on top of his receiving production.
Leigh, an athletic tackle, is a former five-star recruit from Clemson. A captain for the Tigers, Leigh has the leadership the Vikings value, and will be given every shot to stick around on the practice squad and develop.
Fansided’s Zach Lentz think the Vikings will have a lot to like.
“Sure, the draft experts nitpicked his technique, but nobody can question Leigh’s physical gifts,” wrote Lentz. “With an 84-inch wingspan and the kind of athleticism that jumps off the tape, he’s got the tools NFL coaches drool over. The Vikings love versatility and leadership, and Leigh’s proven he can handle both tackle spots at the highest level. Don’t be surprised if he carves out a spot on the 53-man roster this fall.”
Goodwine never started in college, but was a solid rotational defensive lineman for South Carolina. At 6-foot-3 and 319-pounds, it’s obvious the Vikings like his size on the interior.
Former UDFA Jalen Redmond is Primed for Another Takeover
Another UDFA success story is Minnesota’s Jalen Redmond, who Bleacher Report named the Vikings best kept secret after a breakout season at 27 years old.
“Jalen Redmond’s story alone deserves attention after being an undrafted free agent, needing the United Football League as a pathway to the NFL and growing into an underappreciated defensive lineman,” wrote Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski.
“There’s a standard to his play. It’s shown up every single week, and it goes back a lot before everybody started to notice it,” Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters in November. “For us, just felt like he was a guy that we wanted to make sure was on the field as much as possible. He’s a really good player. I think he’s developed throughout his time here and really is starting to understand how he fits within the defense.”
Redmond is now a starter on one of the league’s best defenses and notched six sacks in 2025. Could another 2026 UDFA follow the same path?
Vikings UDFA Guarantees Reveal 3 Players with an Inside Track to Making the Roster