Sounds Like a Speedy Draft Prospect Wants to Join the Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings have four draft picks in the upcoming three-day event, but general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has the option to increase that number by trading back. Also, an important aspect of his strategy so far has been the signing of strong UDFA classes.

Sounds Like a Speedy Prospect Wants to Join the Vikings

Regardless, the Vikings are a team players want to play for, as all the incoming free agents have emphasized, and the NFLPA reports cards don’t lie either.

Earlier this offseason, Kentucky’s expected first-round cornerback Maxwell Hairston mentioned that he enjoyed his pre-draft meeting with the Vikings. Pretty much the same thing happened once again when running back prospect Brashard Smith was quizzed by Kay Adams on her show Kay & Adams.

She pulled a photo the running back posted a few weeks ago of his top-30 draft visit in the Twin Cities and asked him about it. He answered, “I loved it. It was probably my top 2 that I really liked for sure.”

Smith is listed 152nd on the mock draft influenced big board; Arif Hasan lists him 137th on his consensus board. The Vikings have pick 139, a final remaining piece from the trade that sent Za’Darius Smith to Cleveland in the 2023 offseason, and that is right around the range those two entities expect the SMU Mustang to get his draft call.

He continued when Adams followed up to get more intel about his Vikings experience, “Just the people around. I could just kinda see how they’re trying to turn the program around. It’s definitely gonna turn around, and the coaching staff they have, I feel like it’s big time. They’re building something for sure.”

The runner is a fascinating prospect. He began his college journey at the University of Miami and played wide receiver. The results? He produced 770 receiving yards and four touchdowns in his first three college seasons. Miami briefly used him as a runner; he logged 18 carries for 177 yards and a touchdown.

Following the 2023 season, he transferred to SMU, where his career took off. He finally played running back, accumulating 1,332 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, and showcasing his wideout background, catching 39 passes for 327 yards and four scores.

And there’s another sweetener. Smith returned 53 kickoffs and five punts. If he were to join the Vikings and beat out Ty Chandler for the RB3 job, he could also replace him as the team’s primary kick returner. The punt returning gig is also vacant.

Smith was a significant piece in SMU’s outstanding 11-3 season that ended in the playoffs against Penn State two weeks after losing a nailbiter in the ACC title game against Clemson.

PFF wrote about the speedster, ” Smith could be a highly productive receiving back in an offense that emphasizes his skill set and ability to align anywhere on the field. While he likely doesn’t have the frame to handle 20-plus touches per game, he could be a valuable weapon for 10-15, especially with his ability to create mismatches against inside defenders in the passing game.”

Smith stands 5-10 and 194 lbs. He ran a 40-yard dash in only 4.39 seconds.

They added, “Smith quickly became the engine of SMU’s offense, racking up over 1,600 total yards. He displayed strong vision and elusiveness in his new role, particularly when bouncing runs to the outside. His electric footwork and versatility give him a real chance to carve out a valuable role in an NFL committee backfield.”

In Minnesota, he wouldn’t be in a workhorse role, considering the club already employs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, who are considered to be a strong one-two punch.

Behind them, the aforementioned Chandler is the next man up, and he hasn’t really earned the trust of his coaching staff through three seasons, losing his RB2 job in consecutive seasons to Cam Akers.

The bottom line is that Smith already likes the Vikings, and his skill set as a pass-catching guy would match his role as the RB3. In addition to that, the Vikings have a draft pick that perfectly aligns with his draft projections.

It’s a connection that could make sense for the Vikings on Saturday when the NFL selects players in rounds four through seven.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference CFB helped with this article.