C.J. Ham’s retirement left the Vikings with a real hole to fill, and the team appears to have targeted a familiar kind of answer: a tough, versatile blocker who can do the dirty work in the backfield.
Ham spent 10 years in Minnesota after arriving as an undrafted running back, and by 2017 he had settled in as the team’s full-time fullback. He helped clear the way for Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison and Aaron Jones, and his exit in the offseason left the Vikings without that presence in a position that has become rare across the NFL.
That’s where Max Bredeson comes in. Minnesota used a fifth-round pick on the Michigan product, and at first glance the selection could have raised eyebrows. But the fit makes more sense when you look at what the Vikings are building toward: a more run-heavy offense in 2026 that will need physicality and edge from the players in front of the ball.
As ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote over the weekend, "Coaches love his physicality and scheme versatility as a blocker," and "Bredeson will not only get playing time on offense but also start if the Vikings open in one of their heavy packages."
Bredeson also brings the kind of flexibility that matters in this offense. He can line up as a blocker and help complement starters T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver, giving Minnesota another piece who can move around and fill multiple roles.
If he delivers on that profile, Bredeson could become the kind of understated but valuable contributor fans quickly learn to appreciate.
In Other News...
Vikings Are Sending A Clear Message About J.J. McCarthy
The Vikings are leaving little doubt about where J.J. McCarthy stands heading into the opener against Green Bay. General manager Nolan Teasley said the quarterback is expected to be on the roster for Week 1, a notable checkpoint for a player whose early career has been shaped by injuries but who has recently been a full participant in practice.
McCarthys availability has become part of the larger conversation around Minnesotas plans, especially with the organization continuing to talk up his talent and development. For now, the message from the front office is clear enough: the team believes he is moving in the right direction, and the real test will come when the roster is set for the Packers. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Quarterback Drama Is Creating An Opening Few Fans Expected
Questions about J.J. McCarthys place in the Vikings future have become part of the conversation again, and general manager Nolan Teasley didnt try to close the door on them. McCarthy arrived as a first-round pick, and Teasley made clear his story in Minnesota is still unfolding after only ten starts, even as the team has moved on to Kyler Murray at the top of the depth chart.
Murrays arrival has shifted the spotlight in a way that may actually suit him, since he has been able to work through training camp with less media scrutiny than McCarthy drew as the franchise hopeful. For a Vikings team that has seen past success in seasons shaped by quarterback uncertainty, the current dynamic creates an opening that few fans expected, and it leaves McCarthys next chapter very much in play. [Read more 🡒]
Kyler Murray Could Change How The Vikings Offense Really Looks
Kyler Murrays rise as Minnesotas starting quarterback has added a new layer to an offense that already asked plenty of its passer before the ball was even snapped. General manager Nolan Teasley pointed to Murrays growth as a thrower, especially his anticipation, his ability to fit passes into tight windows and the work hes done at the line of scrimmage, all while still bringing the mobility that has always made him dangerous. In Kevin OConnells system, where timing and footwork matter so much, that combination could make the Vikings look a little different than they did a year ago.
The early signs have been encouraging in practices and preseason games, where observers have seen flashes of that expanded skill set show up in real time. Still, the bigger test is whether Murray can stack those moments into the kind of consistent execution Minnesota needs once the games count for real. If he can, the Vikings may not just be getting a quarterback who extends plays, but one who can run the offense in a way that changes its ceiling. [Read more 🡒]