Expectations for Vikings’ late-round picks are varied, but there is a lot of potential to contribute early
The Minnesota Vikings may finally get some production from their NFL Draft class during their rookie seasons.
After breaking down the rest of the NFL Draft class’ expectations, it’s now time to turn attention to the final trio of selections as rookies report to training camp. The Minnesota Vikings made four selections on day three, and they could get real production from two or three of them.
While none of these late-round picks will be expected to contribute immediately as starters, their development over the next few weeks could shape the Vikings’ depth chart heading into the 2026 season.
CB Charles Demmings
The second fifth-round pick for the Vikings, Demmings played at Stephen F. Austin, an FCS program in Texas. He stayed there because he wanted to graduate from college. Not all of his credits would have transferred to an FBS school, so he made the decision to remain and finish his degree. When you watch him play, the talent jumps off the screen. One of the reasons he fell was because evaluating FCS talent is inherently difficult.
The Senior Bowl was a massive litmus test for a player like Demmings. He went up against Group of Six and Power Four players and equipped himself well in those drills. While drills aren’t games, they help solidify that what showed up on film wasn’t a fluke. At 6-foot-1, 193 pounds, Demings understands how to play in phase, stay sticky in coverage, and attack the football. He’s a good athlete, not a great one, and he could still improve his play strength. But make no mistake about it: Demmings is a good football player.
The realistic expectation is that Demmings won’t see much playing time right away. He’s a fifth-round pick, and those aren’t guaranteed roster spots. However, this isn’t a raw 21-year-old who needs years of seasoning. He’s a multi-year college starter who exhausted his eligibility. If he shows he can handle the coverage adjustments and communication required on the back end of the Vikings’ defense, Minnesota could work him in as the fourth cornerback. It wouldn’t be shocking if he eventually shows enough to let the team move on from Isaiah Rodgers and slot in as a cornerback 2 or 3 next year. That’s a bit of wishful thinking, but Demings is someone worth circling during camp.
RB Demond Claiborne
Claiborne runs a 4.37, and people around the organization are excited about him. We’ve heard the buzz from multiple people, but there are still questions to answer. Can he be a well-rounded player and play special teams? Can he figure out how to pass block? Those are two massive requirements for any running back trying to stick on an NFL roster.
The contact balance concerns are real. If a gust of wind happens, he falls down. He’s not an overly good receiver out of the backfield, and he’s not a plus pass blocker. Those are critical elements for a running back three who also needs to be a core special teamer for this team. If you just want Claiborne to run wide zone concepts, cut back, and hit the hole, the speed makes sense in theory. But if he’s getting touched and going down, that’s a problem.
The one area where Claiborne could carve out real value is kick return. If he proves he can be a legitimate kick returner at the NFL level, a lot of the other concerns become secondary because he’s still providing special teams value. The Vikings traded a 2027 sixth-round pick along with pick 244 to get him, and based on the athletic profile, the excitement is understandable. The expectations should remain low until the pads come on and he shows what he can do.
C Gavin Gerhardt
Gerhardt is a seventh-round center who ranked 612th on the consensus board. The expectations here should mirror what the Vikings had when they selected Michael Juergens in the seventh round of 2024: play well enough to make the roster. Minnesota seems to value having multiple players who can snap the football on the active roster, and Gerhardt fills that role.
Last year, Blake Brandel was one of those depth pieces before becoming the starting center. When injuries piled up, he moved out to tackle and guard. Gerhardt’s PFF grades are relatively solid, and he looks like a baseline-capable athlete. At center, you can usually get away with that. Whether that baseline capability translates to the NFL level remains a genuine question. It’s a seventh-round pick, and no one knows what the return will be until he hits the field.
