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Vikings Use 1 Pick to Acquire 3 Running Backs
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- Vikings Use 1 Pick to Acquire 3 Running Backs
The Vikings’ Cap Space Swells
The running back position carried the Minnesota Vikings for a long time, which is no surprise with talented backs Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook in the backfield for 1.5 decades. Under Kevin O'Connell, the importance of the position group has seemingly faded.
Still, the club drafted a running back on Saturday, using pick 198 to bring Wake Forest ball-carrier Demond Claiborne to the Twin Cities. That pick was acquired via trade from the Patriots for a seventh-rounder this year and a sixth-rounder from next year's draft.
Oct 5, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons running back Demond Claiborne (1) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images
Funny but true: That exact draft pick, 198 from the 2026 draft, was used three times by the Vikings to acquire a new running back.
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How did that work? Well, time appears to be a flat circle in the NFL.
On a serious note, that pick was originally Minnesota 's organic 2026 sixth-rounder. In October of 2024, the organization traded that pick to Houston in exchange for running back Cam Akers .
Akers had already played for the Vikings in 2023, joining via trade from the Los Angeles Rams . He played a rotational role behind Alexander Mattison and his snap share slowly increased. Unfortunately, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon halfway through the season.
In the 2024 offseason, Akers signed with the Texans . Once again unhappy with the depth in the running back room, the Vikings traded for him a second time in 2024. This time, pick 198 was used.
Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands the ball off to Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The Texans shipped that pick back to Minnesota in a trade for Vikings guard Ed Ingram last offseason. The former second-rounder couldn't establish himself as a starter here, but left a mark in Houston. Pick 198 was back in the State of 10,000 Lakes.
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A few days later, the Vikings swapped 198 for Jordan Mason . A second back arrived with that same exact draft choice. Mason became the running mate of Aaron Jones after his breakout season in San Francisco . The 49ers didn't want to hand him a contract extension, opening the door for the Vikings. Mason led the Vikings in rushing with 758 yards and six touchdowns.
In October, six months ago, the 49ers rerouted Minnesota's sixth-rounder to the New England Patriots in a trade that landed them defensive lineman Keion White . San Francisco's defensive unit had a horror season, as injuries depleted that group all year long. White was a needed reinforcement.
That brings us to Saturday. The Vikings wanted to trade up into the sixth round to secure the speedy back out of Wake Forest. In exchange for picks 234 and a 2027 sixth-rounder, Minnesota once again controlled pick 198.
The draft pick underwent a long journey and somehow gave Minnesota three running backs along the way.
Sep 27, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons running back Demond Claiborne (1) runs the ball during the third quarter against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive back Kelvin Hill (16) at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images
Claiborne joins Mason and Jones in the running back room, with Zavier Scott providing depth. He became Minnesota's first running back drafted since DeWayne McBride in 2023.
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The 22-year-old provides the breakaway speed and the youth that the Vikings lacked in recent years. He demonstrated his pace with a 4.37 40-yard dash at the scouting combine.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler wrote about Claiborne in his pre-draft analysis , "A twitched-up ball carrier, Claiborne has darting quickness and speed to burn, which allows him to gear down, plant and hit the accelerator in unison. He is a competitive runner but lacks the power of an inside runner and is at his best on the move, when he can get defenses flowing east-west and set up cutback opportunities. Minimizing fumbles and drops and expanding his catch radius would vastly increase his chances of finding regular playing time in the NFL."
Over the last two years, Claiborne rushed for over 1,900 yards and 21 touchdowns, adding another 394 yards as a pass-catcher and two more scores. He also returned two kick returns for touchdowns in his collegiate career.
Depending on his success in a purple uniform, pick 198 could reach legendary status in Minnesota.
Editor's Note: Information from PFF , Over The Cap , and Sports Reference helped with this article.
