Vikings Chat with Defender at Scouting Combine
The Minnesota Vikings continued their pre-draft evaluations at the Scouting Combine, reportedly meeting with a defensive prospect who fits a clear roster need in the trenches.
The decision-makers met with Clemson defensive tackle Demonte Capehart, the player announced at the Combine. He’s scheduled to fly off the board on Day 3 of the NFL Draft in a couple of months.
Capehart spent six years at Clemson and appeared in 57 games with the ACC program. In those appearances, he logged 72 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. He can provide strength and power in the middle of the defensive front.
In a recent report, Draft Huddle summarized his skill set, “DeMonte Capehart is a large, experienced interior defensive tackle with strong anchor ability, rotational experience, and a power-driven play style developed within Clemson’s defensive line system. He wins with size, strength, and gap discipline rather than elite explosiveness or pass-rush production. While his limited statistical output and pass-rush ceiling cap his overall upside, his durability, frame, and interior toughness provide a reliable floor as a rotational NFL defensive tackle in a multi-front defensive scheme.”
According to PFF, Capehart produced an elite run-stopping rate of 8.6%. His play in the ground game is undoubtedly his best attribute.
And that’s where the Vikings enter the conversation. The defense led by defensive magician Brian Flores lacks some oomph in that area.
Last season, Flores coordinated one of the league’s elite units, but the ground game left some room for improvement. The Vikings ranked 9th in run DVOA and 14th in rush EPA. Sure, that’s not bad by any means, but it didn’t quite match the success against the pass.
There were also a couple of alarming games in which opponents ran over them with little resistance. Contests against the Los Angeles Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Green Bay Packers come to mind when backup-caliber runners (Kimani Vidal, Kenneth Gainwell, and Emmanuel Wilson) were unstoppable.
Minnesota’s defensive line room still includes the two expensive veterans the franchise added a year ago. There’s a decent chance that one of Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen won’t be on the team when the Draft kicks off, however. Too enticing are the potential salary-cap savings for a team in the red.
Scheduled to become an exclusive rights free agent, Jalen Redmond is widely expected to return for another year after his breakout campaign. Behind that top trio, the Vikings employ 2024 and 2025 draftees Levi Drake Rodriguez and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, who have played rotational roles.
Pre-draft meetings at the Combine do not automatically signal strong draft interest, but they are a key part of a team’s evaluation process. Franchises typically use these conversations to gauge football IQ, personality, and scheme fit as much as on-field production. For a veteran college player like Capehart, who has extensive experience in a high-level defensive system at Clemson, those interviews can be especially important.
The Vikings, in particular, have shown a willingness in recent drafts to target interior defenders on Day 3 who can contribute early while developing into more consistent contributors over time.
Adding another Day 3 pick could complete the room, especially if that guy can perform against the run. Capehart fits that profile and could be on Minnesota’s list of intriguing players. He is expected to perform well at the Combine to boost his stock.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
You must be logged in to post a comment.