3 Running Backs the Vikings Should Target in Free Agency
Josh Frey
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Free agency still doesn’t get started for a few weeks, but that doesn’t stop the speculation of who the Minnesota Vikings could target when the legal tampering period officially kicks off on March 13th. One position that the Vikings could need to bolster this offseason is the running back spot. Here are 3 running backs that Minnesota should target when free agency rolls around.
Jamaal Williams
Not only does Jamaal Williams have a contagious, fun-loving personality that makes for great interviews and a terrific presence in a locker room, but he is also coming off a very productive season for the Detroit Lions in 2022.
Williams actually broke the Lions single-season rushing touchdowns record in 2022 by finding the end zone 17 times. He also recorded 1000 rushing yards for the first time in his six-year NFL career, racking up 1066 yards.
Even still, it feels like this season from Williams has gone a bit under-the-radar for Detroit, and Spotrac currently projects the 27-year-old RB’s market value to be a two-year deal worth a total of $8,355,328, an average salary of just under $4.2 million per year. Considering Dalvin Cook is set to carry a cap hit of $14.1 million in 2023, this could be a solid replacement for about $10 million less.
D’Onta Foreman
Over the past two seasons, D’Onta Foreman has seen his role progressively grow in NFL backfields. In 2021 with the Titans, he surpassed 100 carries for the first time in his career, and then in 2022, he played all 17 games with the Carolina Panthers.
During that season in Carolina, Foreman put together 203 carries for 914 yards and 5 TDs. Once again, he’s a running back that is projected to make much less than Cook in 2023. His projected contract next season is one year for $3,458,726.
Samaje Perine
Samaje Perine probably can’t be a lead running back next season for the Vikings, but can he be a spell for a Ty Chandler? He absolutely can do that. It remains to be seen what type of faith Minnesota has in their 2022 fifth-round pick, and that probably impacts their interest in a guy like Perine.
However, if the Vikings can use Chandler as a lead back, Perine would bring a compelling combination of rushing and receiving ability to the backfield. In 2022, he caught 38 passes for 287 yards and 4 TDs in addition to 95 rushes for 394 yards and 2 TDs on the ground. And finally, Perine’s next contract is projected at $3,006,605 for one year.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.