Vikings traded up with the Patriots to select Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne with the No. 198 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
A four-year college player, Claiborne is an explosive, shifty running back. He stands 5’10/188 and ran a 4.37-second 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. Claiborne increased his yards per carry and reception totals each season and consecutively received third- and second-team All-ACC honors over the last two years. He posted a 229/1,053/11 rushing line and a 22/250/2 receiving line in 2024 before going for 179/909/10 and 28/137/0 in 2025. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler says, “he has the mismatch-creating athleticism and receiving upside to be a diet version” of Dolphins RB De’Von Achane. Operating in a change-of-pace role in Minnesota this year is the most likely outcome, though his high-end potential should not be written off.
