Sports

Demond Claiborne is turning heads, but one hurdle still looms large

The Viking Age · Jul 22, 2026 23:52 · 3 min read

Demond Claiborne is turning heads, but one hurdle still looms large — Minnesota Vikings rookie RB Demond Claiborne | Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images

Minnesota Vikings rookie RB Demond Claiborne has a long list of things to clean up during training camp this summer before he gets some snaps in 2026.

The Minnesota Vikings are hoping to find some gems in their 2026 rookie class, and one of the top candidates is Demond Claiborne. The sixth-round draft pick opened plenty of eyes during the team’s minicamp last month, and the hype train has been full steam ahead, according to an observation by The Athletic’s Alec Lewis.

“Executives, coaches and teammates quietly raved about his movement skills this spring. If he can master the system, pass protection rules and ball security, buckle your seatbelts.”

Most Vikings fans will get excited about that quote, seeing people around the organization raving over Claiborne’s skills and the phrase “buckle your seatbelts.”

But Lewis may have revealed the reason why Aaron Jones returned to Minnesota last spring and why Claiborne may have a tough path to playing time in his rookie year if he doesn’t fix his flaws.

“Kevin O’Connell has a lot of faith in [Jones]. The head coach knows that when he calls Jones will do his job correctly.”

Minnesota Vikings rookie RB Demond Claiborne must fix his flaws to challenge Aaron Jones

The two excerpts display the challenge Claiborne has entering his first training camp.

The talent is there, as Claiborne ran for 1,956 yards and 21 touchdowns while catching 51 passes for 394 yards and two scores in his final two years at Wake Forest. He also had a 4.37-second time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, which ranked in the 94th percentile among running back prospects dating back to 1999, per MockDraftable.

That profile convinced The Athletic’s Dane Brugler to call Claiborne “a diet version” of Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane.

Jones also joined the chorus praising Claiborne, comparing his speed to Detroit Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs during minicamp. But none of that matters if he can't secure the ball, pass-block, and learn Kevin O’Connell’s system.

The Vikings have been here before, drafting Ty Chandler in 2022 and DeWayne McBride in 2023. Chandler had a nearly identical 40-yard dash time (4.38) to Claiborne and a strong final season at North Carolina, running for 1,092 yards and 13 touchdowns while catching 15 passes for 216 yards and another score.

While Chandler ran for 461 yards and three touchdowns and added 21 catches for 159 yards during the 2023 season, he never seized a big role even as Alexander Mattison had one of the worst seasons by a running back in franchise history.

Jones was signed the following offseason and Chandler is now a member of the New Orleans Saints.

Of course, Chandler may have never gotten that opportunity if McBride lived up to his potential. The UAB product came in with “a starter’s grade” from former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah after leading Conference USA with 1,713 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns.

But he didn’t even make it out of training camp and is currently with the Orlando Pirates of the Indoor Football League.

While Claiborne has enough to suggest he’ll be different, there’s also enough to predict he’ll have the same fate. Claiborne fumbled five times in 179 attempts during the 2025 season with the Demon Deacons and was even worse in pass protection, allowing four pressures with a 29.9 grade on 42 pass-blocking snaps, according to PFF.

Jones was not perfect in pass protection last season, allowing four pressures and a sack on 30 pass-blocking snaps. His injury history and his own ball security issues (seven fumbles on 400 attempts) with the Vikings also could open the door. But that will only come if Claiborne can clean up his own game.

If that happens, the upside is massive. But it’s a big challenge that Claiborne will have to overcome if he’s going to have the rookie year that some are expecting.