Interesting take by Breer about NFL RBs

This is why I wanted the Vikings to sign Breece Hall, Travis Etienne, or Kenneth Walker. Three studs that would have performed very well here, especially knowing we were bringing in Frank Smith.

I love Jones and he is still one of the best blocking RBs in the league. He still has tread on those tires and has a great locker room guy. I think Mason is great for the pounding game, but he’s terrible at pass blocking unfortunately. Wild card is Claiborne, but is he a 3-down back?

The rumor was Minnesota was very interested in Etienne, but he really wanted to go to New Orleans as he's from Jennings, Louisiana.

IceRatz16 wrote:

Wild card is Claiborne, but is he a 3-down back?

I honestly think he is going to be our Sproles. Small injury to start TC so I'll be excited to see him in the PS.

When I read the news about Bijan's MASSIVE new deal this morning, it struck me as dirt cheap. So I'm not surprised some others are feeling that way now too. The pendulum of the NFL.

SurfnRide wrote:

I honestly think he is going to be our Sproles. Small injury to start TC so I'll be excited to see him in the PS.

Well, I followed Sproles career much more than the average Viking fan, so I will say that if you’re right, I would be thrilled. However, I have made this comparison in here at least once, but Claiborne needs to bulk up to be able to withstand the NFL punishment. Sproles may have been smaller, but he was almost 100% muscle. The dude was flat out jacked and he was as elusive as they come with great vision. I agree that Claiborne is very similar, but right now he is just too thin. He needs to bulk up, IMO. I’m pretty sure that Sproles weighed just as much as Claiborne, despite being 4”-5” shorter.

IceRatz16 wrote:

Well, I followed Sproles career much more than the average Viking fan, so I will say that if you’re right, I would be thrilled. However, I have made this comparison in here at least once, but Claiborne needs to bulk up to be able to withstand the NFL punishment. Sproles may have been smaller, but he was almost 100% muscle. The dude was flat out jacked and he was as elusive as they come with great vision. I agree that Claiborne is very similar, but right now he is just too thin. He needs to bulk up, IMO. I’m pretty sure that Sproles weighed just as much as Claiborne, despite being 4”-5” shorter.

Me as well, my son went to Olathe South so we got to see him at Olathe North during his high school career. Then of course at K-State. Amazing kid, unreal high school player. Senior year 49 TDs and 2500 yards rushing, lol.

IceRatz16 wrote:

Well, I followed Sproles career much more than the average Viking fan, so I will say that if you’re right, I would be thrilled. However, I have made this comparison in here at least once, but Claiborne needs to bulk up to be able to withstand the NFL punishment. Sproles may have been smaller, but he was almost 100% muscle. The dude was flat out jacked and he was as elusive as they come with great vision. I agree that Claiborne is very similar, but right now he is just too thin. He needs to bulk up, IMO. I’m pretty sure that Sproles weighed just as much as Claiborne, despite being 4”-5” shorter.

I'm in SD and followed Sproles career pretty closely. Chargers are my #2 team. They are basically the Vikings of the AFC. Always competing and choking horribly when it matters.

Sproles - 5'6. 190 lbs. 4.47 40 yrd

Claiborne - 5'10. 188 lbs. 4.37 40 yrd

So you are correct. I thought Claiborne was shorter but I am wrong. He's got a little more speed though but 4" is a big difference that allowed Sproles to hide behind OL's and then bust a gap quickly. Maybe the height of our OL will help hide Claiborne a bit?

I don’t think we can 1:1 on the weight.  I think 190 on a short frame is much more dense than 190 on an average frame.

I’m still against most teams paying RBs big bucks or using high draft picks.  I think there are special cases where it makes sense to do so, but in almost all cases you’re just better off investing in a different position instead.  If you already have a top Oline and a QB and WRs and you want that last position filled to make a run, sure spend on a RB.  If you don’t have a top Oline, you’re just better off investing in Oline and a cheap RB.  It made a ton of sense for the Eagles to go get Saquon.

I think spending $10-12M a year on a pretty good RB is much more reasonable than spending a first round pick or $20M+ for 3 years on a top tier RB for most teams.