The Minnesota Vikings made a major change to the running back room in back-to-back offseasons. In 2023, the team parted ways with star runner Dalvin Cook, and his past two seasons show that they picked the exact right moment to do that. In March of 2024, one-year starter Alexander Mattison was replaced with ex-rival Aaron Jones.
Vikings Viewed as Fit for a Running Back Prospect
Although he doesn’t seem to be quite in his prime anymore, Jones has been an upgrade and is clearly the club’s top running back. However, he will shortly turn 30, and some fresh legs need to be added in the upcoming offseason, regardless of Jones’ status. The Vikings could opt to re-sign him, but he needs someone next to him to take some load off him.
That help could arrive in free agency or in the draft. The upcoming draft class is strong at some positions, including running back, so general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should take a long look at the group of prospects and pick the one he likes.
Brent Sobleski from Bleacher Report thinks Iowa’s star rusher, Kaleb Johnson, is that guy:
A significant difference could be seen in Kaleb Johnson this season compared to his first two years with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
“He’s running smarter, better, stronger,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said last month, per John Steppe of The Gazette. “Everything about it is better right now. He has a great attitude. He’s really fun to be on the field with and fun to be in here with or anywhere else. He’s a good young man. Yeah, it’s been fun to watch his maturity and growth take place.”
The reigning Big Ten Running Back of the Year carried the ball 260 times for 1,242 yards through his first two collegiate campaigns. He exploded this fall with 1,537 yards on 240 carries. He also scored at least one touchdown in every single game this season.
Johnson possesses an intriguing combination of size and speed, but perhaps the most compelling aspect is that he excels in zone running schemes and, therefore, is a perfect fit in Minnesota. He brings the vision and instincts the coaching staff seeks to the table.
Sobleski added: “When Johnson gets rolling, the 225-pound back plants decisively and gets downhill while running behind his pads. He should fit in nicely with zone-heavy schemes that require backs with enough patience and vision to press the hole and then immediately explode through the openings.”
Jones and backup Cam Akers are scheduled to enter free agency after the season, leaving Ty Chandler as the only option on the roster. Chandler didn’t get many touches in his rookie season in 2022, and O’Connell was hesitant to give him more snaps in his sophomore season. In year three, he has been replaced by Akers for the RB2 gig, so it seems unlikely that he will be more of a factor in his age-27 season in 2025.
The Vikings hold a first-rounder but traded away numerous selections. A compensatory third-rounder for Kirk Cousins’ exit will likely be the next choice at the end of the round, which might be too late for Johnson, and the team doesn’t have the draft capital to facilitate a trade. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs to be creative.
He surely would be a great fit, but he might be out of reach unless the Vikings decide to trade their first-rounder into multiple assets, including a day-two pick.
Regardless, in a decent running back class, someone will be available for the purple team that needs a new RB1.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
#Vikings #Considered #Candidate #Running #Prospect
