Eagan, Minn. (March 9, 2026) – The Minnesota Vikings have tendered a one-year contract to LB Ivan Pace Jr. He will receive a right-of-first-refusal tender. The Vikings have also placed the exclusive rights tender on DL Jalen Redmond.
Pace signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and has appeared in 45 games, including 27 starts, in his first three seasons. He has amassed 215 defensive tackles, including 11 for loss, 6.5 sacks, two interceptions, three passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown. On special teams, Pace has contributed 21 tackles. He is one of just three undrafted players to log at least 200 defensive tackles and 6.0 sacks in their first three NFL seasons since 1994 (London Fletcher and Jerrell Freeman).
In two seasons with the Vikings, Redmond has appeared in 30 games, including 17 starts, and recorded 80 tackles, including 18 for loss, 7.0 sacks, seven passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. In 2025, Redmond was one of three players in the NFL to record at least 60 defensive tackles, 6.0 sacks and five passes defensed (Brian Burns and Maxx Crosby). He became the seventh DL since 1999, and just the third interior lineman (J.J. Watt, 2012 and Kevin Williams, 2004), to boast the stat line in one of his first two seasons.
Comments