Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: DeWayne McBride
Rank: 48
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 215 lbs
Experience: Rookie
College: UAB
Stats (At UAB): 31 games, 484 carries, 3,523 yards, 7.3 YPC, 36 touchdowns, 5 receptions, 29 yards
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 48
Kevin Fielder: 48
Judd Zulgad: 47
Saivion Mixson: 48
Average: 47.75
Best case scenario
Even though McBride was a seventh-round pick, there is a path where he can be a major contributor. If his hamstring wasn’t hindering him, McBride would have testing data and probably goes in round three or four. He runs like a car crash and can bounce off of defenders easily. The ability to see the hole and accelerate through it paired with bouncing off defenders will get him opportunities to run the ball on early downs.
Worst case scenario
There isn’t any way to sugarcoat the fact that McBride had only nine targets with five catches for 29 yards across three seasons at UAB. Not being used in the passing game is a red flag that he couldn’t solve during the NFL draft process due to a hamstring injury. Not having a real utility on third down is a major hindrance to getting onto the field as a backup running back in a rotation.
What to expect in 2023
McBride is currently a talented unknown in the Vikings running back room. He can run the football as good as anyone, but what he doesn’t have is a well rounded skillset at this point. What he shows in those areas during training camp and the preseason will determine what he will become this season. As long as McBride doesn’t have a disastrous training camp, expect him to make the roster.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
