Vikings draft Day 3 breakdown
By Matthew Coller
No. 159: Michigan, FB, Max Bredeson
The Minnesota Vikings landed the top fullback in the draft in the fifth round, grabbing a player who mixed between blocking TE and blocking from the backfield while he was in college with the Wolverines.
It’s fair to wonder if the fifth round was a little early for a pure blocker but his blocking numbers and scouting reports suggest that he has a chance to be a difference maker in that role. Last year Bredeson posted an 85.2 PFF run blocking grade and 78.1 pass blocking grade. He allowed zero QB pressures last year and zero sacks as a blocker for his entire career.
Picking Bredeson may be a sign of what’s to come with the Vikings run game after hiring former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith. The Dolphins were top notch in the run game with FB Alec Ingold on the field. Bredeson should jump into the fray quickly in that spot.
But filling all of the duties left by retired fullback CJ Ham won’t be easy. Ham played every phase of special teams and became one of the league’s best pass blockers on third down. It will take some development for Bredeson to get there.
Here’s what the analysts had to say about him:
— “His passionate energy and blocking toughness are NFL worthy, if he lands in the right offense. Special teams will be key for him to make a roster.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
— “He fits blocks with good centering and strikes with initial pop. He has a hard time sustaining and clearing lanes on a consistent basis, though. He can handle basic zone-beater and play-action catches. He’s also above average in pass protection from the backfield.” — Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
On his call with reporters, Bredeson described his experience working in different roles and alignments in the Wolverines’ offense.
“Being able to like know as much of the system as possible, I can be a plug-and-play guy,” Bredeson said. “Last year I was always in the tight end room but then on some days I’d go into the running back room because I had pass protection responsibilities.”
He continued… “I wouldn’t be in the receiver room, but I know if all of a sudden we go fast, I’m playing a receiver position. So I think a lot of it was just like when you play, when I was in the tight end room, you kind of have to know two positions at that point, try and find the third and just put the puzzle together from there.”
Bredeson is known as a driven player who worked himself from being a zero-star recruit and having to walk on at Michigan to getting drafted in the NFL.
No. 163: Stephen F. Austin, CB, Charles Demmings
Many prognosticators expected the Vikings to select a cornerback earlier in the draft but they landed an intriguing one in the middle of the fifth round in Chuck Demmings.
He is one of the freakiest athletes at the position, ranking 5th by NFL.com’s athleticism score of all the CBs who participated in the Combine. He ran a 4.41 40-yard dash and had a 41-inch vertical — both of which he thought could have been better had he not been dealing with some knee discomfort in Indy.
Demmings was highly productive at Stephen F. Austin with nine interceptions and 35 pass breakups over his career. Over the last two seasons he had PFF grades of 80.4 and 81.6 in coverage and he only had one missed tackle.
The newest Viking corner, especially in the NIL era, could have decided to leave for a bigger program before last year but elected to stick with his university. It’s plausible that he might have been a much higher draft pick if he thrived at any of the interested schools, which reportedly included Mississippi State, Rutgers and West Virginia.
Here’s what the analysts had to say about Demmings:
— “Demmings has some learning-on-the-job lessons waiting for him in the NFL, but he has the cover athleticism and mental toughness to weather that storm and be better for it. He can offer immediate depth on defense and special teams.” — Dane Brugler, The Athletic
— “Demmings is capable of mixing into a variety of coverages but is at his best starting from a press look. He has the hips/feet to match route breaks and the speed to stay with routes as they unfold. His recognition and instincts are average from off coverages and he can be a step slow to drive on throws in front of him. While Demmings lacks ideal play strength and is not a firm tackler, his ball skills and man-cover consistency could land him a roster spot as a future CB4 with gunner potential.” — Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Demmings will have a steeper development curve than some other prospects because of the quality of competition that he faced but his athleticism and attitude could help him get on the field quickly as a special teamer and give the Vikings some much needed depth behind Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers and James Pierre.
The newest Viking played outside corner, as most top college CBs do, but he talked with the TC media about how he was adaptable to whatever the scheme called for during a given game.
“I had three different [defensive coordinators] and the first DC I had…he liked to disguise and then post-snap, give it a whole different look and jump on the offense where the QB had to read,” Demmings explained. “My second year, we played a lot of quarters [coverage], that’s what he lived upon and that was good for my game because now it’s another tool in my toolbox.”
He continued…
“And for the past two years, had the same D.C. and we did a lot of cover three-man match and a lot of press…I went through a couple different schemes but it gave me a lot of tools in my toolbox.”
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