Louis Riddick Names the Vikings’ Undercover Stud from Draft

Austin. Demmings brings speed, length, and ball production to a cornerback room with long-term uncertainty. Minnesota pulled Demmings out of Round 5 on Saturday, and he’s the best shot at a late-round prospect taking off, says Riddick.

Demmings Has a Real Path to Early Playing Time The SFA product is new; here’s what to know. SFA cornerback Charles Demmings attempts to bring down ACU tight end Jed Castles during a home matchup, with Sept. 6, 2025 marking the contest as Abilene Christian secured a 28-20 win.

Demmings closes in on the tackle while battling in space, showcasing his physicality against a larger target in live action. Mandatory Credit: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Riddick’s Annual List Five years running, Riddick identifies players who he thinks will break out — call them unsung performers.

Here’s his list for 2026: Time for the 5th annual list of my favorite non-first round prospects (tried to NOT select obvious 2nd rounders as well) from each team in the 2026 draft that could be a significant contributor/starter within the next 2-3 years: Arizona: Chase Bisontis/OG/TX A&M Atlanta: Zachariah Branch/WR/UGA Baltimore: Ja’Kobi Lane/WR/USC Buffalo: Kaleb Elarms-Orr/LB/TCU Carolina: Chris Brazzell/WR/Tenn Chicago: Malik Muhammad/DC/Texas Cincinnati: Tacario Davis/CB/Wash Cleveland: Taylen Green/QB/Arkansas Dallas: Jaishawn Barham/Edge/Mich Denver: Jonah Coleman/RB/Wash Detroit: Keith Abney II/CB/AZ State Grn Bay: Dani Dennis-Sutton/DL/PSU Houston: Wade Woodaz/LB/Clemson Indy: Deion Burks/WR/Oklahoma Jax: Emmanuel Pregnon/OL/Oregon KC: Jadon Canady/DB/Oregon Las Vegas: Malik Benson/WR/Oregon LAC: Brenen Thompson/WR/Miss St. LAR: CJ Daniels/WR/Miami Miami: Kyle Louis/LB/Pitt Minn: Charles Demmings/CB/SFAustin New England: Namdi Obiazor/LB/TCU NO Saints: Bryce Lance/WR/ND State NY Giants: Malachi Fields/WR/NDame NY Jets: D’Angelo Ponds/CB/Indiana Philly: Eli Stowers/TE/Vanderbilt Pitt: Gennings Dunker/OL/Iowa SF: Ephesians Prysock/CB/Wash Seattle: Bud Clark/DB/TCU Tampa Bay: Keionte Scott/DB/Miami Tennessee: Anthony Hill Jr/LB/Texas Wash: Antonio Williams/WR/Clemson Quite a few of these players were intermixed in Vikings mock drafts from January to April. The Demmings Scouting Report Demmings has been a Viking for four days, so it’s time to learn about him before organized team activities (OTAs) get underway.