Vikings Doing Homework on Combine Standout
At the annual Scouting Combine, the Minnesota Vikings chatted with one of the most explosive (weight-adjusted) players there. Clemson’s DeMonte Capehart might just be what the Vikings need to further solidify the trenches.
Scheduled to hear his name called on Day 3, he posted strong numbers at the Combine that might boost his stock. The player announced that he met with the Vikings.
The interior defender spent six years at Clemson, appearing in 57 games for the ACC program. In his reps, he logged 72 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. Though not the most productive player in the class, he can provide strength and power in the middle of the defensive front.
In a recent report, Draft Huddle summarized his skill set, “DeMonte Capehart is a large, experienced interior defensive tackle with strong anchor ability, rotational experience, and a power-driven play style developed within Clemson’s defensive line system. He wins with size, strength, and gap discipline rather than elite explosiveness or pass-rush production. While his limited statistical output and pass-rush ceiling cap his overall upside, his durability, frame, and interior toughness provide a reliable floor as a rotational NFL defensive tackle in a multi-front defensive scheme.”
His Combine performance might put the explosiveness claim to the test. He posted impressive numbers.
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema noted, “Sometimes we get ‘winners’ wrong at the Combine (overthinking testing numbers we should’ve expected), but Clemson DT DeMonte Capehart might have been the biggest ‘winner’ from DL.”
In fact, he is one of the most explosive athletes for his size the Combine has seen.
According to data shared by NFL_Researcher on X, “Four players since 2003 have reached each of the following thresholds at the Combine: 6’4″+, 300+ pounds, 4.85 or faster 40-yd dash, and a 33″+ vertical…
DeMonte Capehart (2026)
Tristan Wirfs (2020)
Terron Armstead (2013)
Lane Johnson (2013)”
That’s elite company with three of the best offensive tackles of the 2010s and 2020s. Defenders, meanwhile, can’t be found on that list outside of Capehart.
According to PFF, Capehart is coming off a season with an elite run-stopping rate of 8.6%. He’s at his best defending the run. And that’s where the Vikings enter the conversation. The defense led by defensive coordinator Brian Flores lacks some muscle in that area.
Last season, Flores coordinated one of the league’s elite units, but the ground game left some room for improvement. The Vikings ranked 9th in run DVOA and 14th in rush EPA. Sure, that’s not bad by any means, but it didn’t quite match the success against the pass.
The Vikings enter the offseason with their entire defensive line group from last season still under team control for 2026. Jalen Redmond is an exclusive rights free agent, but he’s widely expected to stick around.
The conversation is different when it comes to veterans and former Pro Bowlers Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. Given the salary cap problems, parting ways with one of them seems likely. Financially, it makes sense to part ways with Hargrave.
Behind that starting trio, the Vikings employ 2024 7th-rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez as well as 2025 5th-rounder Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins. Both played rotational roles in 2025 and could slowly grow into bigger roles moving forward.
Adding Capehart would give the Vikings a defensive line room with three promising young players selected on Day 3 of three consecutive Drafts.
Ultimately, pre-draft meetings and Combine buzz do not guarantee draft interest, but they do signal that Capehart is firmly on Minnesota’s evaluation radar. For a team looking to get younger, cheaper, and more physical in the trenches, a high-floor run defender with rare size-adjusted explosiveness could be an appealing Day 3 investment.
If the Vikings do move on from a veteran to create cap space, adding a developmental interior presence like Capehart would align with their recent roster-building approach of stockpiling rotational linemen with upside rather than relying solely on expensive veterans.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.