MN Vikings Draft JJ McCarthy’s Fullback

The NFL Draft is in day three, meaning teams are throwing darts all over their board, in hopes they can hit someone who lands on their roster, come August.

Entering Saturday, the Vikings had already added FIVE players to the roster in the first two rounds of the draft, Thursday and Friday. The class started with Florida interior defensive lineman Caleb Banks at No. 18 overall.

Acting GM Rob Brzezinski then followed that up on Friday with Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday in the second round (No. 51), then Iowa State DT Domonique Orange (No. 82), Northwestern offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan (No. 97) and Miami safety Jakobe Thomas (No. 98).

The Minnesota Vikings came into this draft with three picks in the top 100, with hopes to add three starters for 2026. Instead, after Rob traded Jonathan Greenard and did some other wheeling and dealing along the way, they ended up with FIVE bites at the top 100 apple.

Minnesota Vikings land their new fullback

How many of their day one and day two picks earn starting jobs next season — or anytime during their respective MN Vikings careers — is yet to be seen. Even Banks, their first pick, is far from guaranteed a starting role in 2026.

With that being said, the Vikings’ best shot at being an immediate starter may have come in round five, their first of two fifth rounders on Saturday. That’s when Minnesota shot their shot with CJ Ham’s replacement, selecting JJ McCarthy’s former teammate at the University of Michigan, fullback Max Bredeson.

Fullback love 💜@BredesonMax pic.twitter.com/MiAv9lSi94

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 25, 2026

Max Bredeson — who was listed as a FB/TE during the pre-draft process — will play fullback in Minnesota, where he shined during his five seasons in Ann Arbor.

By Bredeson’s redshirt freshman season at Michigan, the Heartland, Wisconsin native was already a big part of what the Wolverines were trying to do, on offense, where he logged 233 total snaps.

In 2023, Max’s redshirt sophomore season, he led the way on 195 Michigan run plays, posting a 78.0 PFF run block grade. In fact, you could say that without Bredeson clearing the way for star running back Black Corum.

What does Max Bredeson bring to the MN Vikings offense?

Some believed earlier in the pre-draft process that Max Bredeson might slip to the seventh round, possibly even go undrafted. However, the Minnesota Vikings were not about to let him slip through their fingers.

#Michigan FB/TE Max Bredeson is probably a 7th rounder/UDFA but teams looking for a player to handle fullback duties would be getting an excellent lead blocker and utility guy than can be a pass blocker and block in-line despite being on the smaller end. pic.twitter.com/ZwQLvMA2Jg

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) March 6, 2026

More Vikings News: Jonathan Greenard Traded

Even with three picks remaining in day three, at the time of the pick, Kevin O’Connell snagged his fullback of the now and future. On the internet, he is being heavily compared to 49ers do-it-all fullback/tight end, Kyle Juszczyk.

There is no debating that the Wolverines’ combination of dominant ground and pound + stifling defense is what won Michigan a National Championship that season — not JJ McCarthy.

Now, one of the most key pieces of that 2023 Natty puzzle will be in a MN Vikings uniform for the foreseeable future. And we know one thing for sure: McCarthy — who was recruited to Michigan in the same class as Bredeson — loves the pick.

JJ McCarthy gets his guy

Not only has JJ McCarthy been lobbying for the Minnesota Vikings to select his college tight end for months now, but he was actually at Bredeson’s draft party today. When Bredeson got on his celebratory Zoom call with local reporters this afternoon, McCarthy could be heard and even seen in the background hyping up his guy.

Apparently J.J. McCarthy's at Max Bredeson's draft party. Just popped up when Max logged on to speak with us.

— emily leiker (@emleiker) April 25, 2026

FOX HOLE GUY

LFG

— J.J. McCarthy (@jjmccarthy09) April 25, 2026

After McCarthy left campus and joined the Minnesota Vikings, the Wolverines relied even heavier on Max Bredeson’s ability to block in the run game, as he logged a career-high 356 snaps as a redshirt junior in 2024.

And he took advantage of the additional work, raising his PFF grades across the board during his senior year, all while showing an incredibly versatile skill-set that started to grab the attention of offensive coaches at the NFL level.

Not only is Bredeson a devastating blocker, but he’s proven he can pass block and catch the football, as well. He told reporters today that he feels like he can lineup just about anywhere, and still do his job.

Fullbacks can do it all.@BredesonMax pic.twitter.com/8EWyO3Qsw4

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) April 25, 2026

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