DeWayne

McBride

The fantasy community weeps for McBride, whose elite college metrics didn’t show up in Vikings training camp. Playing primarily as the third or fourth-string back in Minnesota’s preseason games, McBride rushed 20 times for 70 yards and two touchdowns and caught one pass for 11 yards. McBride will now pass through waivers and has a chance to be claimed by another team. It’s possible he will end up on the Vikings’ practice squad if he clears waivers.

Both Kene Nwangwu and Ty Chandler rested while the seventh-round rookie played, indicating that McBride currently sits no higher than fourth on the depth chart heading into his rookie season. It appears as if he’ll have to contribute on special teams or risk being a game-day inactive once games matter in two weeks.

Hunt visited with the Saints earlier this week and was expected to sign. However, the Colts called him up as he was headed to New Orleans to schedule a visit of their own. He left both cities without a contract and now has another suitor in the Vikings. Multiple beat reporters have noted that the backups in Minnesota have left a lot to be desired and Kene Nwangwu is currently sidelined with an injury. Should Hunt join the mix in Minnesota, he would be a good bet to earn the No. 2 role behind Alexander Mattison.

Chandler started the game and heavily out-touched rookie DeWayne McBride in the first half. The two are competing to back up Alexander Mattison in the Vikings’ post-Dalvin Cook backfield. Chandler was making tacklers miss in Seattle while also featuring in passing situations. It would certainly appear he has a leg up on McBride, though the word out of Vikings camp has been that neither back is standing out.

Mattison left practice with a limp, leaving the backfield to Chandler, the second-year back from North Carolina. Chandler fumbled once and Lewis said, “His reps lacked consistency.” Seventh-round rookie DeWayne McBride could have a path to the RB2 role in Minnesota, though head coach Kevin O’Connell has already noted how difficult it will be for McBride to get up to speed on the offense in just one summer. With Kene Nwangwu serving primarily as a special teams contributor, Lewis floated the idea of a free agent running back joining the mix to give Minnesota some stability behind Mattison. Should anything happen to Mattison, there would likely be a messy committee in his place.

McBride’s spot on the depth chart is far from certain given the number of accomplished backs on the roster, but it was somewhat surprising he made it to the seventh round and he’s certainly got the talent to make the Vikings after a college career where he averaged 7.3 yards per carry. If Minnesota lets go of Dalvin Cook, McBride figures to spend his rookie year waiting for an opportunity behind Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, and Kene Nwangwu.

Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was noncommittal on Cook’s future with the team a few weeks before the draft. There have been trade and cut rumors surrounding Cook throughout the offseason. If the Vikings were going to trade him, there is a good chance it would have happened prior to the draft. Now they may simply choose to cut him. If the release happens after June 1st, Minnesota will save $9 million against the cap with an $8.2 million dead cap hit spread out over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The team brought Alexander Mattison back in free agency and drafted UAB running back DeWayne McBride in the seventh round. Mattison would get the first crack at the starting gig and would immediately vault into high-end RB2 territory if Cook is released.

McBride (5’11/209) enters the NFL with one of the best production profiles in the class. He ran for 1,713 yards in 2022, 1,371 yards in 2021, and averaged 73 yards per game as a true freshman but only appeared in six games. He also scored 32 times in his final two seasons. His absurd, 7.3 yards per carry on 484 career attempts speaks for itself. McBride is an extremely versatile runner who can handle any kind of scheme and wins with both power and finesse. On the downside, he caught five passes in three seasons at UAB and put the ball on the ground nine times over the past two years. He will need to clean that issue up if he wants to stay on the good side of future coaches, but his elite production could earn him a starting role early in his career.

McBride (5'11/220) is a big and imposing back who’s tough to take down. Not only was he the best G5 RB with a 93.1 PFF grade and 94.0 rushing grade, but he was on of the top overall back in the country as finished last year 13th in the country with 1,371 yards and his 6.7 yards per carry was second amongst running backs with over 180 carries. He’s someone you need to pay attention to for this upcoming season.

McBride (5'11/220) is a big-bodied back who’s tough to take down when running up the gap. He finished last year 13th in the country with 1,371 yards and his 6.7 yards per carry was second amongst running backs with over 180 carries. What makes him even more valuable is his ability to continue after contact as his 5.2 yards are the most amongst all running backs since 2020. As he becomes draft-eligible after this season, he’s looking to be a high draft prospect.