Vikings Book Another Free Agent Visit, Meet with Pro Bowl RB
K. Joudry
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According to Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network, the Vikings will be having a meeting with Kareem Hunt. Pelissero offers the word: “Free-agent RB Kareem Hunt is visiting with the #Vikings today, per source.”
The veteran running back has been a free agent for a little while; he has recently been meeting with different teams as he looks for NFL employment in 2023. Previously, he was with the Chiefs and Browns. The time in Cleveland stands out since he overlapped with Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Recently, the Vikings have gone through something similar with guard Dalton Risner and corner Ronald Darby. No deal has materialized with the pair, but that can change if the Vikings decide they need help at either iOL or CB. The Hunt visit is simply an extension of what the Vikings have been doing. As Will Ragatz notes, the meetings suggest Minnesota is invested in competing in 2023:
Vikings Book a Meeting with Kareem Hunt
Last season, Hunt’s numbers were modest. He was able to pick up 468 yards and 3 TDs on the ground through his 123 carries; the 3.8 yards-per-carry average won’t blow anyone away, but it’s notable that it was the first time in his career that he came in below 4 yards per carry. Through the air, Hunt did some damage, but the production was similarly humdrum. A total of 35 catches went for 210 yards and a single TD.
In Minnesota, Alexander Mattison is leading the charge. The Vikings will be leaning on the 5th-year runner to soak up most of the carries, but it’s unclear how he’ll respond to the heavier workload. So far, he has been a backup since being a 3rd-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Behind Mattison are Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride, Kene Nwangwu, and Abram Smith. Against the Seahawks, Chandler did some really good things. Take a look at what Kevin O’Connell had to say about the sophomore’s performance:
An encouraging assessment and yet it’s one that needs to be reined-in by some of O’Connell’s comments earlier in his press conference. The head coach spoke about Chandler bringing a top-level performance on a daily basis, suggesting that the runner may not do as well in practice as he does during games.
Meanwhile, Nwangwu has been a bit dinged up, leading to him sitting against Seattle. McBride appeared indecisive at various points last night and Smith (recently signed) couldn’t get too much going. The 7th-round rookie finished with 6 carries for 15 yards (2.5 average) whereas the XFL standout finished with 7 carries for 18 yards (2.6 average).
Presumably, the hope for Hunt is that he’d stabilize the RB position while functioning as a weapon on third down. Some strong pass protection would also keep him involved in the offensive game plan. Standing at 5’11”, 216, Hunt has never been the largest RB, but he has found a way to be productive in the past. Most notably, his rookie season involved more than 1,300 yards rushing, a visit to the Pro Bowl, and a runner-up finish in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.
Kansas City drafted him 86th overall in 2017. That pick belonged to the Vikings but got traded to Kansas City for a trio of different selections.
Minnesota has more than $10.6 million in cap space. A deal that’s far beyond $2 million would likely be too rich for the Vikings.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, NFL, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
