Minnesota Vikings sign RB Demond Claiborne

Demond Claiborne's signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), which reads as a fair-market deal for a depth piece rather than a value steal or a meaningful overpay. At roughly $1.2M AAV against a total commitment of just under $4.7M, the Vikings are paying replacement-level money for a player who profiles as a roster-filler at a position with plentiful supply across the league. Running back is the NFL's most fungible position, which means the bar for extracting genuine CVI value here is lower than at premium spots — but it also means the ceiling on this deal's upside is capped by default. Without guaranteed money data available, it's difficult to assess how much financial risk Minnesota is actually absorbing, though the modest total value suggests the structure is likely team-friendly enough to avoid meaningful dead-cap exposure. In the preseason context, this is exactly the kind of low-cost depth move that makes sense for a team carrying a five-game win streak into the offseason, building out a roster that needs reliable depth more than splash. The CVI lands where it does because the contract aligns with the market for a non-featured back, but Claiborne will need to show enough in camp and preseason reps to justify holding a roster spot once the regular season approaches in September. Serviceable depth move — no alarm bells, no reason to celebrate.