EAGAN, Minn. — Three minutes felt like forever.

Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez and Taki Taimani were on the practice fields at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, getting loose before beginning team stretches for a walk-through.

The date was significant: Aug. 27. So was the time: 2:57 p.m.

"Taki looked at me and he said, 'Oh, it's a long three minutes.' We were hoping nobody got a tap on the shoulder," Redmond exhaled in the frame of his locker Wednesday after practice. "We made it through."

Rodriguez was stressed. Redmond was very nervous. Taimani didn't believe the congratulations from the coaches – he couldn't fathom them as real in his head – until it was 3 o'clock. Until the deadline passed.

"It finally hit 3 and we all just looked at each other and you could see the sigh of relief," said Taimani.

Redmond was able to fix the texts to his mom that said something along the lines of "I think I made the roster. I think." She was thrilled. Redmond stated, "She helped me up," when doubts crept into his mind.

Rodriguez, the lone draft pick of the three young Vikings defensive linemen, managed to take a deep breath. "It's a weight lifted off my shoulders," he expressed, "but there's so much more to be done."

Taimani teared up while on the phone with his 1-year-old daughter Zayda.

"That's something that I'll forever hold because it doesn't just change my life. It changes my daughter's life and my grandparents' lives and my sister's life," Taimani described his gratitude. "We did it."

Now, they must keep doing it.

Redmond, Rodriguez and Taimani – we're guessing there'll be a nickname for this trio soon – took circuitous paths to make Minnesota's 53-man roster. Each busted their butt. Each overcame long odds.

Redmond spent 2023 at the Panthers training camp but was waived last August as an undrafted free agent after injuries nipped his promise as a pass-rusher. He bet on himself in the spring, breaking out with 4.5 sacks for the United Football League's Arlington Renegades. He's one of two UFL players on 53-man rosters.

Experience in the spring league with players who either are fighting to make their way to the NFL for the first time or back to what they missed out on translated to a "big confidence boost," Redmond said.

Rodriguez finished his college career at Texas A&M. Excuse us, Texas A&M-Commerce, which elevated several years ago from Division II to Division I FCS. He was drafted in the seventh round and hardly a lock.

Then there's Taimani. Undrafted after six years in college. He's endeared to his role as a space-eater.

"I'm just a big body in the middle that can two-gap," Taimani grinned, sharing his personal m.o. "I want the people around me to eat. I couldn't care less about the tackles, you know, as long as the team is winning. … To the outside, they might not see what I'm doing, but your LBs, your guys will know."

That attitude can be contagious.

"They're all a little bit different but they all love to play," Brian Flores said Tuesday. "They all practice the right way. They all prepare the right way. The intangibles are really very similar within all three guys."

In other words, there's a lot to like. The 25-and-under d-linemen (Redmond turned 25 last March; Taimani will be 25 on Oct. 6; Rodriguez is the baby of the bunch, turning 24 early in camp on Aug. 4) are infectious personalities off the field and players to watch on it – tough, smart and galvanized to grow.

"We're all different learners," explained Taimani, nodding at defensive line coach Marcus Dixon's ability to cater to their styles when he gives feedback in the meeting room or coaching tips in individual drills. "For me, I can sit there in my head and be like 'boom, boom, boom' and kind of draw it in my mind whereas Levi is more of a visual learner. He's got to slow it down. I'm always like 'Slooow it down.' You know, just a funny joke. … Same as Redmond, he likes to write it down and see it on the white board."

Taimani is appreciative of assistant defensive line coach Patrick Hill's tough-love nature. He pushes him – once, setting the record straight, "You know I'm hard on you," and Taimani responds, " 'Yeah, you're just like Pete.' … For those who don't know Pete Jenkins, he's pretty much the Nick Saban of the d-line."

Hill is similar to Jenkins in how he coaches the position. You can't be sensitive, Taimani said. They're technicians. Taimani worked closely with Jenkins, 83 years old and still impacting the next generation, when he visited Oregon in the summers. The link is important because it allows Taimani to build on the foundation of skills he acquired at former Pac-12 programs Washington (2018-21) and Oregon (2022-23).

"I've learned so much," said Redmond, more comfortable with his pre-snap keys and alignment in different fronts thanks to instruction from Dixon, Hill and Flores. "Just about the game all-around."

Flores was quick to highlight the trio's capacity to activate learning from Dixon and Hill.

"I think they've done a really fantastic job of coming in [and] learning the system," Flores imparted. "MD and Patty have done a great job of getting [them] coached up on the techniques and the fundamentals, and then their ability to apply it in real time on the practice field and in games has been very good."

The Vikings defensive coordinator added: "I think they have bright futures."

Ideally, the trio will begin with a small package on defense and then expand, which is par for course for most young players, Flores said. Having veteran d-linemen Jonathan Bullard, Harrison Phillips and Jerry Tillery helps.

In more ways than one.

"As a rookie, you just kind of put your head down, learn the flow of everything and really go to work," Taimani said, referencing what he believes helped his case to make the 53-man. "My biggest thing was just learning from all the vets." (He lists "HP," "Bull," Jonah Williams and 13-year veteran Harrison Smith.)

Taimani said his trick is "ear-hustling." He acts relaxed in the hot tub when he's actually listening intently to every word – he's seeking advice and routines that will lead to longevity and playing at a higher level.

"It's unheard of really," Rodriguez shared in regard to the trio bashing the odds together and having conversations of building long careers. "We have dreams. We have goals. But that goes day-by-day."

The three young Vikings d-linemen are wired differently.

"I'm a little quiet, I ain't going to lie. I'm not as outspoken. And here comes Levi – all loud," laughed Redmond, complimenting Rodriguez's genuine goofiness. "I enjoy it because it's not what I do.

"I love both of those guys," Redmond added a sentiment that was duplicated by his defensive line companions. "Even though we kind of just met, it feels like we've known each other for a while."

They share the same intentions.

"To make this team better," announced Taimani, jubilantly calling himself, Rodriguez and Redmond energy bunnies. "To be a brick-layer. One isn't going to build a wall. You've got to stack a ton of them."