But. The player they get?
It's listed nowhere as a need. The rb position. Yet, we've been blessed with a mostly healthy couple years from a rather injury prone, aging Aaron Jones.

There's some meat on the bone of this 6th round pick. No secret I like the low center of gravity rb far more than big tall backs. At this point on careers. Desmond is a bigger home run threat than Aaron. And. What I see on tape is some elite vision. I read some takes that he gets dinged for not following blocks. Well? When I'm watching games. I'm constantly getting pissed that the rb isn't seeing the truck sized hole that opened to the left bc he's determined to follow the blocks & play design. Ok that. 1st hole that opens. Ditch the play flow & accelerate through the hole. That's the entire idea of the wide zone run game.

They say hes undersized... His 1 inch shorter, 20 lbs lighter than jones...
They say he's an older prospect. He turns 23 in October. Jones is already 31.

The thing that jumped of the zeurleins writeup... "He's a back that can add immediate juice to a stagnant run game"....
Stagnant run game? It's almost as if zeurleins was telegraphing the vikings. Stagnant describes the Viking run scheme EXACTLY!.

I read many comps. From jamal Charles to achane. Even a Chris Johnson comparison.
To my eye. I swear. The 1st name that came to my mind was Aaron Jones. Plus screen and swing receiver. His kick returns are impressive too.

The one knock I have no answer for. He had some fumbling issues in 2025. That weren't there In prior seasons. 10 career fumbles, 7 lost. 3 & 3 in 24.
7&4 in 2025. 2 times 2 fumbles in same game.
7 of those fumbles occured in November. The stretch run in NCAA.

He's going to come into the league with that reputation. So it ain't going to get easier.

All but 1 of those fumbles came when he carried + 20 times. So? Maybe he's limited to 15 carries? As much as possible anyway. Jordan Mason remains there. As does Aaron jones. It might serves Aaron well, to give some of his carries to the rook. Might get a full season of healthy hamstring from Mr. Jones.

There's a firm idea in the NFL. Complimentary back. The change of pace.
I've never much liked that. Your run scheme is your run scheme. If it's built between the tackles. Having a pair of Jordan Masons going full power into the hole. That makes more sense than sending a smaller quicker back into the hole. Power run is built on beating on those would be tacklers. Getting them sore. Hit shy for qtr4.

If your scheme is outside. Built on speed & quick cut. Then sending a slower bigger back out to run that play only aids the d. The goal of the outside run. Tire out those chase defenders. Have them tired/ slower for the 4th qtr.

Scott & Mason are similar. Big bruisers built for inside runs. Jones Clairborne are going to excel more in the wide 1 cut & go scheme. They're more likely to win the race wide.

My thought. Vs teams with soft middle. Scott & Mason are active. One of the smaller guys rests his body that week.
When a team is stout In the middle. One of the big backs gets the week off. And the 2 speed guys pound the wide zone run game.

Now that fb.... How do you keep 4 backs & a fb. That's a conundrum. The Michigan fb might wind up on the practice squad unless he can steal a roster spot from one of the te's on the roster. It's a rather unimpressive group. And Hockenson is a 2027 fa. So it's somewhat a valuable roster spot. Vikings currently have 5 rostered. They certainly won't keep 5. More likely 3 or 4. Perhaps 1 or 2 slide to ps? Still can the fb steal a roster spot from a team? With hock, perhaps oliver leaving in fa 2027?

Maybe, the dude is the right size. Idk if he's ever tried it? Maybe Bredeson is the next long snapper?
DePaola is 6-1 227.
Bredeson 6-2 245.

DePaola was a hs QB, then 3rd string QB & holder at rutgers. Switched to wr & holder. Then long snapper in his final year at rutgers.
Andrew DePaola turns 39 in July.
He was still the "all-pro" selection long snapper in 2025. Probably will be again in 2026... FB is not a common roster spot in the NFL anymore. The best ones are gigantic beasts. I think Patrick Richard in Baltimore is +300lbs. Kyle Jucsyck retired after 14 years. He was listed at 235.
Cj was 5-11 250.
Now heres the biggest deal in this.
Bredeson had zero career carries in his 4 seasons playing time in Michigan. 12 total receptions. His best year was year 1. With a career long 56 yarder... Amongst his 5 freshman catches. His total career yardage was 122...
This kid is a blocker not much else. Or? The trainee this season, learning behind the perennial all-pro long snapper... That will be 40 when the 2027 season starts.