EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings have added an edge rusher.
Minnesota signed defensive end Jordan Brailford off the Washington Football Team practice squad, the Vikings announced Tuesday.
In 2019, Washington used the second-to-final selection of the NFL Draft to grab Brailford 253rd overall. He spent that season on Injured Reserve and this September was added to Washington's practice squad.
Here are five things to know about Brailford, who celebrated his 25th birthday on Oct. 9.
1. Standout at Oklahoma State
Brailford became a full-time starter for Oklahoma State partway through the 2017 season and went on to finish the campaign with 57 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
In 2018, he served as a team captain and led the Big 12 with 10 sacks. Brailford helped the Cowboys rank in the top 20 nationally in red zone defense, tackles for loss and sacks. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors and also received the Leslie O'Neal Award, presented annually to OSU's outstanding defensive player.
Brailford shares an alma mater with Vikings kicker Dan Bailey, who originally was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State by Dallas in 2011.
2. Turning heads at the all-star game
Brailford impressed during the 2019 East-West Shrine Game, during which he sacked Boise State quarterback Brett Rypien and later recovered a Rypien fumble.
At the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Brailford ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds, which ranked eighth-fastest among EDGE-designated players. His vertical jump of 37.5 inches ranked fourth-best in his position group, and his broad jump of 10.5 feet ranked third.
3. Overcoming adversity
Brailford has overcome injuries throughout his football career.
He redshirted his freshman season at OSU while recovering from a broken leg sustained in high school. Brailford missed the 2016 season in its entirety with a shin injury and was granted a medical hardship redshirt by the NCAA.
4. Oklahoma native
Brailford grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He attended Booker T. Washington High School, where as a senior he racked up 105 tackles and 9.0 sacks.
Other notable alumni of Booker T. Washington include former NBA star and Olympic gold medalist Wayman Tisdale, former Saints receiver Robert Meachem and Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett.
Tulsa is located approximately two hours from Bailey's hometown of Yukon, Oklahoma. Brailford and Bailey are the only Oklahomans on Minnesota's current roster.
5. Fan of Michael Scott and Co.
In an interview with the Washington Football Team last season, Brailford said he enjoys the Friday Night Lights television series and is a big fan of The Office, which he watches regularly.
