Vikings Cut Defender Everyone Was Excited About

MIN Drops Hutchings

No one expected an exit so soon, but that happened this week for Hutchings.

NFL writer Dave Holcomb noted, “Days before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings are releasing a defensive tackle they signed to a reserve contract in January — Jaylon Hutchings. NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported on X the Vikings cut Hutchings on Tuesday. As Wilson indicated, most of Hutchings professional football success has come in the Canadian Football League.”

“He also spent a brief time with the Chicago Bears during 2024 training camp after becoming an undrafted free agent. During the 2024 draft process, Hutchings received praise for some of his physical traits and natural instincts. The Bears signed Hutchings as an undrafted free agent but not until August 11. Chicago waived him a few weeks later toward the end of the preseason on August 26.”

The move coincided with the Vikings players and coaches’ first official get-together in Eagan on Monday.

The DTs without Him

Hutchings lived at the bottom of the Vikings’ interior defensive line depth chart, needing to prove himself in the summer to earn an active roster spot for September. That is now moot.

Without Hutchings, here’s the Vikings’ DT room:

• Jalen Redmond
• Levi Drake Rodriguez
• Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
• Taki Taimani
• Elijah Williams

Most fans think Minnesota will draft a defensive tackle this week, perhaps early in the event, with names like Peter Woods (Clemson), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), and Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) getting particular attention in various mock drafts.

Hutchings’s Career to Date

Hutchings was a CFL all-star in 2025, believe it or not. It’s why Vikings fans immediately compared him to Redmond.

Here’s his pro and semi-pro resume to date:

• Chicago Bears (2024)
• Calgary Stampeders (2024–2025)
• Minnesota Vikings (2026)

Before the 2024 NFL Draft, NFL Draft Buzz summarizes his skill set: “He’s very instinctive when it comes to countering and solid with overall hand usage. Flashes enough quickness off the snap to threaten gaps at three-technique, especially when slanting. Quick off the snap in the pass rush, Hutchings has violent hands and a good feel for working inside counter moves.”

“Provides some secondary interior pass rush, getting most penetration when playing three technique. His spin move is already NFL-caliber, and he displays a very good motor. Combines strength and footwork to fill holes inside, as well. Recovers from cut blocks or falling on his way to make a tackle.”

Texas Tech defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings (95) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the team’s final Big 12 home game against Oklahoma at Jones AT&T Stadium, on Nov 26, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas, reacting with excitement as the Red Raiders marked a memorable moment in front of their home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Annie Rice-USA TODAY NETWORK

Hutchings banked 8 sacks for the Stampeders last season. That was his claim to fame and springboard to the temporary Vikings contract.

Our Janik Eckardt added in January on Hutchings’s background: “PFF graded him as the best interior defender in the CFL last season. In fact, his 90.7 was the highest grade of any non-quarterback in the entire league. Minnesota’s new defender went undrafted in 2024. Coming out of Texas Tech, he joined the Chicago Bears during the preseason, but he was axed a couple of weeks later.”

“That’s when he crossed the border to compete in the CFL. Hutchings had a remarkably long college career in the Big 12, registering 61 appearances. He made 193 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks in those contests. The Red Raiders also used him as a short-yardage back a few times.”

Perhaps the Vikings will draft the aforementioned Hunter on Friday night, and it will be one Red Raider out and another in.

Eckardt added, “His three rushes resulted in ten yards and a touchdown. A knee injury suffered late in the 2023 season knocked him out of his final college season and he missed most pre-draft workouts. That certainly didn’t improve his draft prospects.”

Not Quite Redmond after All

To reiterate, because Minnesota had so much success with Redmond, who came from the UFL, most saw the Hutchings signing in early January and thought, “They’re going to do it again, aren’t they?”

Not so much.

Finding gems from the UFL or CFL is so rare that it would actually be strange for Minnesota to strike oil twice in two years, let alone players from the same position. Redmond is a unique, a true diamond in the rough. So far, Hutchings is not.

Texas Tech Red Raiders defensive nose tackle Jaylon Hutchings (95) rushes toward Texas Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) during second-half action at Jones AT&T Stadium, on Sep 26, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas, driving into the backfield as Texas Tech applied pressure in a competitive Big 12 matchup. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

In fact, Hutchings fell victim to the typical UFL or CFL fate: a roster cut before showtime.

He’ll turn 27 on New Year’s Eve. Some credible reports also indicate that Hutchings suffered an injury setback this spring, and he could be part of the Vikings’ roster in the future. Stay tuned.