When the NFL draft kicked off on April 23rd, most eyes were on the Minnesota Vikings to snag a running back early. But the team surprised everyone, waiting until the sixth round to pick Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne. Now, this rookie might just be the key to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s future with the team.

O’Connell isn’t exactly on the hot seat, but after a season without playoffs, his job security is no sure thing. The Vikings need more balance on offense, and Claiborne could be the young back who finally forces that shift. For O’Connell to build on last year’s success, he absolutely needs a competent rushing attack—something that’s been missing since he took over in 2022.

Here’s the thing: Claiborne was drafted in Round 6, and history isn’t kind to late-round running backs. Out of 145 backs picked in the sixth or seventh rounds since 2005, only 14 have tallied 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage in a single season. That’s a mere 9.6% success rate. Names like Peyton Hillis, Chris Carson, and Isiah Pacheco prove it’s possible, but Claiborne will have to beat the odds and thread the needle.

The Vikings passed on several promising backs in Rounds 4 and 5, including Jonah Coleman, Mike Washington Jr., Emmett Johnson, and Nick Singleton. So the pressure is on Claiborne to deliver—and fast.

On the bright side, Minnesota’s ground game has been trending upward. The team ranked 27th in rushing in both 2022 and 2023, jumped to 20th in 2024, and climbed to 13th this past season. That’s a positive trajectory, but O’Connell still hasn’t committed to a balanced offense. The Vikings ranked 30th in rushing attempts in 2023, 18th in 2024, and 19th this year.

With a healthy QB1, O’Connell’s teams win. But if the running game doesn’t step up, his tenure could be in jeopardy. Claiborne might just be the rookie who changes everything—or the one who proves that late-round picks are long shots for a reason.