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Vikings Rookie Could Hold the Key to Kevin O’Connell’s Future
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- Vikings Rookie Could Hold the Key to Kevin O’Connell’s Future
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
When the NFL draft kicked off on April 23rd, most onlookers expected the Minnesota Vikings to leave the event with a running back somewhat early. Instead, the club waited until Round 6 to select Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne — and that man may suddenly hold the key to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s job security.
The Vikings need more balance, and Claiborne may be the young back who finally forces it.
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O’Connell isn’t necessarily on the hot seat , but with a losing or playoffs-less season, his departure cannot be ruled out. To have more success than last year, O’Connell absolutely needs a competent rushing offense.
Minnesota’s Running Game Needs a New Spark
Do you think an efficient ground game would unlock Minnesota’s offense?
Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne fields questions from reporters during a media availability session, with Jul 23, 2025 positioned at Hilton Charlotte Uptown as part of ACC Media Days, where the standout rusher discusses team expectations, personal development, and the upcoming college football season in a high-visibility preseason setting. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
Claiborne as the Choice for the Young RB
The Vikings drafted Claiborne in Round 6, and while he could, in theory, turn into the next big thing, tailbacks drafted that late don’t often pan out.
These are RBs drafted from Round 6 or 7 in the last 20 years who had 1,000+ yards from scrimmage in a single season:
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— Peyton Hillis
— Chris Carson
— Alfred Morris
— Derrick Ward
— Justin Forsett
— Isiah Pacheco
— Elijah Mitchell
— Spencer Ware
— Chester Taylor
— Mike Anderson
— Andre Ellington
— Latavius Murray
— Ahmad Bradshaw
— Rashaad Jennings
That’s fourteen guys of 145 drafted since 2005. Or 9.6%. Claiborne must beat the odds and thread the needle.
Meanwhile, Minnesota notable passed on runners like Jonah Coleman , Mike Washington Jr., Emmett Johnson, and Nick Singleton . All were available to the Vikings from Rounds 4 through 5.
Rushing Offense Woes since 2022
Since O’Connell took over the Vikings in 2022, he’s generally kept the team relevant, and when he has his healthy QB1, the team wins. It just does. However, he’s never solved the rushing offense — committing to it wholeheartedly or unlocking efficiency.
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Thankfully for his sake, the ground game has improved per the metrics:
Vikings Rushing Offense,
Per DVOA,
Since 2022:
2025: 13th
2024: 20th
2023: 27th
2022: 27th
A positive trajectory, right? Indeed. The problem? O’Connell still doesn’t balance his offense .
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell walks through the tunnel ahead of kickoff, with Sep 14, 2023 set at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia as he prepares his team for a primetime matchup against the Eagles, reflecting focus and game-day intensity before players take the field for the contest. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Vikings’ Rush Play Percentage,Since 2022:
2025: 19th
2024: 18th
2023: 30th
2022: 30th
O’Connell has received the memo to run the ball more, but he still hasn’t jumped full tilt into the process beyond the 19th-most in the NFL in a single season.
Vikings Can Only Go So Far with Poor or Middling Ground Game
When Minnesota hired a former quarterback as its head coach, there was always a reasonable chance that man would engineer a pass-happy offense. That happened. Left to his own devices, O’Connell will habitually prefer to throw the ball. That’s what former quarterbacks do.
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Still, most Super Bowl-contending teams and Super Bowl winners don’t reach The Promised Land by passing the ball at a high rate. Even in 2026, championships are won by running the football or at least running to set up the pass.
The Vikings, with O’Connell in charge, have never uplifted a Top 12 rushing offense, and per frequency, they’ve never topped 14th-worst.
In short, O’Connell might need a true-blue RB1 to force his hand. For example, if he had Bijan Robinson on his roster, he may have no choice but to run the ball. Anything else would be stupid.
If Claiborne Cooks — Look Out
Needing more playcalling balance is precisely why a rookie like Claiborne brings so much intrigue. Vikings fans have never seen an O’Connell-led offense emphasize the ground game. It’s always ancillary. Therefore, there’s no way to know how high the offense could climb if O’Connell merely embraced running the rock at a Top 10 clip.
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It could be what’s missing. In that vein, if Claiborne turns into “the next De’Von Achane” — he has the same height and weight, similar speed, and new Vikings assistant coach Frank Smith offensively coordinated Achane in Miami for three years — the Vikings’ offense could turn into a true juggernaut.
Wake Forest running back Demond Claiborne carries the football during live game action, with Oct 11, 2025 centered at Reser Stadium in Corvallis as he advances against Oregon State defenders in the second half, showcasing speed and vision while attempting to generate offense for the Demon Deacons on the road. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
Zone Coverage ‘s Chris Schad on Smith : “Smith is considered an elite mind when it comes to crafting a running game. He did a tremendous job working alongside Mike McDaniel as the Miami Dolphins ’ offensive coordinator. After a modest first season in 2022, when Miami ranked 25th in rushing offense, it took off in 2023, ranking sixth with 135.8 rushing yards per game and averaging 5.1 yards per carry.”
“ Raheem Mostert played the role of Frankenstein in this offense, running for 1,012 yards and 18 touchdowns during his age-31 season. De’Von Achane was also a dynamic weapon, with 800 yards, eight touchdowns, and 7.8 yards per carry during his rookie season.”
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Whether O’Connell remains Minnesota’s head coach for several more years or gets another head coaching job soon, he must eventually learn that running the football is vital.
A productive, Achane-like Claiborne could change everything in Minnesota and secure O’Connell’s long-term job security.
