Vikings Draft 2024: Minnesota waits until Day 2 to pick a QB in 7-round mock
By Luke Parrish
Fifth-Round Pick No. 2 (162nd overall)
Jase McClellan - RB (Alabama)
The new regime in Minnesota has been active on Day 3 of the draft when it comes to finding running back depth.
Between Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride, the Vikings have searched for help in the backfield on Day 3 and found a possible starter in Chandler.
Chandler broke out at the end of the 2023 season, and while he may not be a true primary back, he can be a contributor for this team moving forward.
Pairing him with another young draft pick would be my plan of attack after watching Alexander Mattison struggle to take the starting job by storm last season.
Bama's Jase McClellan may not be the most explosive athlete on the planet and his numbers are not the most eye-opening, but he is a strong runner who can handle a big workload at the next level.
He carried the rock 180 times for 890 yards and eight touchdowns for the Crimson Tide last season.
McClellan had his best performance of the season in the CFP semifinal loss to Michigan when he ran 14 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
Listed at 5-foot-11 and 212 pounds, McClellan is a tough back to bring down and could easily slide into a similar role to Mattison's.
With how this board fell, McClellan was the best running back for what Minnesota needs and was a pretty obvious selection compared to the rest of the players available.
I would welcome a fresh start in the backfield while finding a new home for Mattison if possible.