The Vikings doubled down on run-game reinforcements on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
First, they selected brawny fullback Max Bredeson out of Michigan with the 159th pick, and then they executed a trade up to choose bursty former Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne 198th overall.
We can imagine both players positively impacting Minnesota's offense, which likely is going to deploy some new designs with Frank Smith coming over as assistant head coach after coordinating Miami's attack since 2022 (the Dolphins ranked Top 5 in yards per carry twice — No. 1 in '23 — in that period).
It's not just us that can visualize Bredeson and Claiborne meshing well in the big picture, either.
Field Yates of ESPN unveiled his five favorite draft picks in all seven rounds Tuesday and included the 2025 LowMan Trophy winner (the top fullback in college football) as one of his beloved fifth-round finds.
Yates wrote the following of Bredeson, who celebrated his draft call with J.J. McCarthy nearby:
The best pure fullback in the class, Bredeson is a throwback type of player who can step into the role C.J. Ham played before his retirement this offseason. Bredeson didn't handle a single rushing attempt in college (he caught 12 passes), instead serving as a pave-the-way blocker. He's physical and plays with the body control to operate in space as a second-level blocker.
For what it's worth, the other fifth-rounders that Yates highlighted in his article are Chargers DT Nick Barrett, Titans RB Nicholas Singleton, Steelers FB/TE Riley Nowakowski and 49ers OL Enrique Cruz, Jr.
Claiborne garnered similar attention from The Athletic college football reporter Bruce Feldman.
Feldman spotlighted Claiborne in his 2025 "Freaks List" last summer and on Monday identified the smaller-framed but lightning-quick back, who scampered for 2,599 yards across the past four seasons, as a late-round RB "who at some point in the next two or three years will be a terrific all-around weapon."
He's not big, Feldman noted, "but he's a 4.37 40-guy who is going to be very productive in Kevin O'Connell's offense running and catching the ball." Claiborne also cribbed two kickoff returns in college.
Click here to check out Feldman's 16 other takeaways from the draft and, here, to read up on Claiborne.
Way, way, way too early mock drafts
Before we hang up on Draft SZN for good, let's take the bait and dive into a few 2027 NFL mock drafts.
Premature is an underwhelming word to describe this exercise — psychotic, maybe? — but nevertheless it's a fun one because what's not fun about the draft, and it could clue us in to some ascending CFB stars.
To stay brief, we're exploring four mocks from The Athletic, CBS Sports, FOX Sports and Sports Illustrated.
Minnesota is predicted to pick 12th or 13th in the stories we scanned, and three of the four outlets agree the Vikings will target an offensive tackle in the first round, while Sports Illustrated suggested a defender.
Here are the four too-soon-to-know choices with analysis underneath written by the author of the mock.
Trevor Goosby, T, Texas | via The Athletic's Dane Brugler
The fourth Longhorn in the top 12 (after QB Arch Manning, WR Cam Coleman and edge rusher Colin Simmons), Goosby got better throughout the 2025 season. If he can continue to build off that production, he will be an easy first-round projection.
Jordan Seaton, T, LSU | via CBS Sports' Cooper Petagna
Armed with 22 career starts, Seaton will play his next season under Lane Kiffin in Baton Rouge after transferring from Colorado. A highly skilled, athletic offensive tackle, some evaluators believe he could ultimately transition to the right side to ease his move to Sundays. While the talent is evident, he remains far from a finished product.
Carter Smith, T, Indiana | via FOX Sports' Rob Rang
Smith was wise to return for one more season at Indiana, recognizing that the 2026 draft was already loaded at offensive tackle with seven players (more than any other position) earning first-round selections. Smith had a chance to sneak into that group this year, but by returning, he should boost his stock, perhaps warranting possible top-20 consideration.
KJ Bolden, DB, Georgia | via Sports Illustrated's Daniel Flick
The Vikings passed on Oregon's Dillon Thieneman in the first round, waiting for the third frame to take a safety in Miami's Jakobe Thomas. Minnesota needs a long-term Harrison Smith replacement, and perhaps Thomas, the No. 98 overall pick, will be the solution. But Bolden is a quality bet, too. At 6-foot and 185 pounds, Bolden is fast, rangy and good in coverage with the ability to slide down and play nickel.
And now, the countdown to training camp begins.
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