Vikings Draft a Demon — with a D
The Minnesota Vikings had no youth in their running back room — until late Saturday afternoon. After a trade back into the 6th Round, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski drafted Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne, and just like that, fans have a twinge of hope that a youth movement at tailback could be on the horizon.
Minnesota added burst, return value, and another backfield variable for Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Veteran Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones will presumably get the bulk of carries early next season, but if injuries arise, Claiborne could be tapped on the shoulder.
Claiborne Adds Speed to a Backfield That Needed More Juice
One drafted halfback is better than zero drafted halfbacks.
It’s Claiborne for MIN in Round 6
Vikings fans waited anxiously during the draft’s first five rounds for a new running back — that didn’t arrive. Then, after a trade with the New England Patriots, the drought ended.
Vikings.com’s Rob Kleifield announced, “The Vikings offense added speed you can’t teach in the sixth round. Minnesota selected former Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne with the 198th pick of the 2026 NFL Draft on Saturday, jolting its backfield with a Second-Team All-ACC runner who has red-hot wheels. The Vikings vaulted up the draft board to snag Claiborne, sending No. 234 and a 2027 sixth-round pick to New England in exchange for 198, which Minnesota twice previously owned (the third time’s the charm).”
“Claiborne, 22, led Wake Forest in rushing each of the past three seasons and followed up 1,049 yards on the ground in 2024 with 907 in 2025. In total, Claiborne carried 558 times in college for 2,599 yards and 26 touchdowns, including double-digit TDs in his final two go-rounds.”
On paper, the Claiborne draft pick doesn’t quite pack the punch of Jeremiyah Love (Arizona Cardinals) or Jadarian Price (Seattle Seahawks) from earlier in the draft, but for Minnesota, it’s a step in the right direction.
Get to Know Claiborne
Claiborne is 5’10” and 190 pounds. He has 4.37 speed, and after the Vikings lost Jalen Nailor, Rondale Moore (RIP), and Ty Chandler this offseason, the club desperately needs more speed. Claiborne is that.
The strengths:
- Change-of-direction fluidity
- Special teams versatility
- Balance
- Intense breakaway speed
Weaknesses:
- Does not have prototypical size of a workhorse running back
- Fumbles
- Pass protection will need a lot of work
- Drops as a pass-catcher
- Not tackle-breaking savant
The Ringer‘s Todd McShay on Claiborne: “Claiborne is an undersized back who is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. He ran the third-fastest 40 time among running backs at the combine. He doesn’t need much of a crease to pull away in the run game, after the catch, and in the return game.”
“He can press the line of scrimmage, get linebackers to commit and make late cuts. He can make defenders miss in the hole. He’s an effective cutback runner. He uses jab steps and hesitation to shake defenders in space. He’s not a power back, but he keeps moving his feet, and he breaks tackles with contact balance. Scouts have expressed concerns about his maturity and ability to control his emotions in the past.”
Claiborne is the first running back drafted by the Vikings since DeWayne McBride in Round 7 three years ago. Minnesota still hasn’t picked a tailback in the draft’s first four rounds since 2019. That drought continues.
McShay added, “He appeared to lose his cool when he spiked the ball after dropping a pass against North Carolina last season. Claiborne’s not built to carry a heavy workload in the NFL. Claiborne is unlikely to develop into a team’s primary ballcarrier, but he has the skill set to develop into an excellent complementary back.”
“There are backs that ran as well as Claiborne and didn’t reach their upside in the NFL and he carries a mid-round grade for a reason. De’Von Achane, a 2023 third-round pick, is an optimistic comparison. Achane is faster than Claiborne, but both players are explosive and possess similar frames.”
Why the Pick Matters
Last year, the Vikings began to turn the corner into a competent rushing offense:
Vikings Rushing DVOA,
NFL Ranking,
in the Kevin O’Connell Era:
2025: 13th
2024: 20th
2023: 27th
2022: 27th
But here’s the main problem:
Vikings Rushing Playcall %
NFL Ranking
in the Kevin O’Connell Era:
2025: 19th
2024: 18th
2023: 30th
2022: 30th
Minnesota ran the ball at the NFL’s 13th-best efficiency clip but ranked 13th-least in rushing playcall percentage. The Claiborne pick matters because he could inspire Minnesota to establish a more balanced offense.
O’Connell’s offense will not be unlocked to its fullest potential until it runs the ball at a balanced rate, at least compared to other playoff-contending teams.
NFL Comparisons
Looking for a stylistic comparison for Claiborne? Say less.
Low End: Nyheim Hines
Middle: Jerick McKinnon
High End: De’Von Achane
The Achane comp is important for one reason: the Vikings plucked Achane’s offensive coordinator, Frank Smith, from the last four years as their new assistant head coach earlier in the offseason. Achane is 5’9 and 190 pounds. He’s not “supposed” to be a Top 8 NFL running back at his size. But he is.
The optimistic take? Smith can massage Claiborne into some variation of Achane in Minnesota. That’s the Holy Grail scenario.
Claiborne will turn 23 in October.
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