Vikings snag a rare fullback prospect, a versatile playmaker challenging modern offenses. Get ready for this surprising draft gem.
The Minnesota Vikings had a questionable draft to some who grade the three days of selections. Still, there were some who viewed individual picks as great successes.
The Vikings valued players and positions that others may not value to the same degree. The net result yielded the team adding one of the best fullback prospects in the entire draft.
Fullback is a position that for some college programs has gone virtually extinct. The proliferation of the modern spread offense has caused many teams to lean into playing more tight ends, receivers and even a second running back that would not fit the fullback mode. Minnesota found a player from Michigan that challenged some prevailing modern roster philosophies. They added Max Bredesen.
Sportsnaut's Andrew Buller-Russ discussed the addition of Bredesen to the team. Here's what he had to say of the former Michigan Wolverine.
"While they drew a heavy amount of criticism, some even saying they had one of the 'worst' draft classes, the Minnesota Vikings feel good about their haul. Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski addressed several key needs, from reinforcing the defensive interior to adding potential playmakers in the secondary, and helping fill out the team’s depth.
The Vikings added nine players in total, but some stand out more than others. Six-foot-six defensive tackle Caleb Banks certainly fits that description, but first-round picks always get all the attention. The Vikings are drawing praise for some of their other picks as well.
Recently, The Athletic‘s Vikings insider Alec Lewis spoke with many NFL scouts and evaluators from teams around the league. In doing so, he gathered some intel on the Vikings’ draft class, where the selection of Michigan fullback/tight end Max Bredeson stood out to a few different AFC scouts and coaches."
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands the ball off to running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) against the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Brad Rempel-Imagn ImagesBredesen was a teammate of Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy in college. One assumes that connection will make Bredesen feel more at home in Minnesota. That said, he adds more value than that to the current squad.
Bredesen gives the Vikings a playmaker out of the backfield that can catch and block for his team. That versatility could force a defense to take away a defensive back from coverage and open up things for wide receiver Justin Jefferson, but it could also create mismatches for Bredesen on the field.
The Vikings rookie will look to make the team and provide a spark right away in his first NFL season.