The Minnesota Vikings had four picks on day three of the NFL Draft. With their final pick they selected UAB running back DeWayne McBride.
With this pick, the Vikings addressed a pressing need in their lineup. If you’re curious to learn more about McBride and his potential impact, read on for insights from some of the most respected draft analysts out there.
Lance Zierlein NFL.com Analyst
Productive runner with the physical/athletic attributes that could create an upward trajectory in the right situation. McBride is experienced and comfortable running in all blocking schemes. He’s smooth-hipped and runs with a good blend of shiftiness, and power. He would benefit from a quicker tempo and decisiveness inside. He must eliminate ball security issues or he could end up falling out of favor quickly. McBride’s lack of third down value could hurt his draft slotting, but his upside is worth a Day 3 selection.
Brentley Weissman of The Draft Network
McBride displays a good overall short-area burst which he utilizes both when running through the line of scrimmage to hit the hole and also when he is in the open field and wants to make a defender miss with a jump-cut or hesitation step. McBride is a downhill runner who is best when he puts his foot in the ground and hits the hole with a head of steam. He struggles when he is forced to create on his own at the line of scrimmage as he lacks the lateral agility to make defenders miss when met in the backfield.
The area in which McBride truly excels is his ability to run with power and contact balance. He rarely goes down by the first tackle and he runs with excellent pad level and leg drive to consistently push the pile. McBride is likely to be viewed as an excellent backup running back or as the power back in a committee.
He lacks value as a receiver out of the backfield and will likely only be utilized on first and second downs. Additionally, while there are instances of him breaking long runs, he lacks the true home-run speed to be a big-play threat at the next level. Ball security is another area of improvement as McBride has fumbled 11 times over the last two seasons.
Overall, McBride will be a successful NFL back because of his play strength, run instincts, and contact balance but may never develop into a feature back as he lacks receiving ability and is not a big-play threat.
Jason Katz of Pro Football Network
McBride burst on the scene in 2021, rushing for 1,116 yards and 12 touchdowns, then he topped it last season with 1,713 yards rushing and 19 TDs. He has a compact build and brings a nice combination of quickness as well as power.
McBride is a bit one-dimensional, as he’s caught just four passes in three seasons, and his upright running style is worrisome. He could be a good situational back at the next level, though McBride must really develop a complete game.
Bleacher Report's Scouting Department
McBride runs a little high in traffic, but he keeps churning his legs to push the pile or bounce off of contact. His high pad level and second effort can lead to some of his ball security issues. He has very good balance when he takes shots to his thighs, defenders are going to feel it when they tackle him. He has very good vision and run instincts and has surprising wiggle and shake for his run style and pad level. He often finds his way to space, and it is then that you see his lack of top-end speed.
McBride rarely pulls away from defenders and you even see them eat up his angle advantage. While he is not going to run away from defenders, he can still create his share of big plays at the next level with his vision, balance, wiggle and tackle-breaking ability. He shows that he can play under control in pass pro with feet, balance and pad level. He will strike rushers and is always looking for work to help. However, he doesn’t always show a great feel for the protection or when to release and give his quarterback space and an outlet. He will also look to strike and miss his target chipping or helping.
McBride’s stride and lack of burst doesn’t lend itself to being a receiving threat on anything other than check downs and screens, and his hands did not appear to be the most natural in limited exposure. He has starter-level NFL run skills and a physical play style that should help him contribute on special teams while he learns the nuances of NFL pass protection. His physical style and willingness to strike rushers should endear him to his quarterback. He should be a solid mid-round selection with the chance to develop into a starter.
