Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found potential superstar north of the border, and it could pay major dividends next season

The Vikings signed defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings from the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, and he could be a factor in 2026.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Jun 7, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell (19) looks to pass against the Calgary Stampeders during the second half at McMahon Stadium.
Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

With the 2026 offseason here, the Minnesota Vikings have a lot of questions to answer. They are still waiting to see if Brian Flores will return as the defensive coordinator. On top of that, the quarterback question remains a major one, as J.J. McCarthy has yet to prove he’s the franchise quarterback.

The next few months are going to have a lot of questions answered, and more will arise. The 2026 Vikings will look a lot different than last season, and those changes have already begun.

Vikings find a talented player who played in CFL

Just a few days after the Vikings finished the 2025 season, they began signing futures contracts. Of the 10 signed, two of them were from the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders. Linebacker Jacob Roberts is intriguing, but defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings stood out in a major way.

An undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech, Hutchings spent some time with the Chicago Bears, but didn’t stick, so he made his way north of the border. In his first season with the Stampeders, Hutchings won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defender award after posting eight sacks, along with the best pressure rate among defensive tackles while being double or triple-teamed on nearly 60% of his snaps.

I spent some time watching his film from this past CFL season and found a potential star in the making.

Jaylen Hutchings displays traits of a potential superstar

Hutchings is an explosive defensive tackle who has a very similar build to Vikings’ superstar Jalen Redmond. A three-tech by trade, Hutchings played all across the defensive front for the Stampeders, as they use their defensive tackles slightly differently than they do in the NFL. He’s a gap-shooter who gets pressure up the middle with ease.

Not only is he a gap shooter, but Hutchings can also win in a bevy of ways. He flashes multiple pass rush moves and the ability to use those as counters. Whether it be swim, club/rip, cross chop, or a spin move, Hutchings can win across the board. He also displays powerful hands that pop blockers out of their stance and get them on their heels.

Hutchings isn’t without his flaws. He gets knocked back too often with double teams, especially when he gets stood up on the snap. Length can also stop him from getting more of a pass rush, as he wins mainly with power and quickness. Even with these issues, the one thing that stands out about Hutchings is his relentless motor. The play isn’t over for him until the whistle blows.

Jaylon Hutchings could be an emerging star, but it’s not set in stone

There are many positives to Hutchings’ game. He thrives on the interior of the defensive line as a pass rusher, but isn’t immune to playing the run either, and he was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2025. With all that said, he’s not a guarantee to be successful.

However, there is a lot to be excited about with his ability on the interior. In Flores’ defense, having a rotation of players is paramount, and he is prioritizing pass rush over having run stuffers. As Redmond did in 2024, Hutchings could be the next emerging star on the defensive line for the Vikings.

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