Vikings Add a New Running Back
The Minnesota Vikings have completed two of the three preseason games on the docket, winning one and dropping the other. In the final game of the preseason schedule, a road contest versus the Tennessee Titans, the purple squad will feature a new player.
Vikings Add a New Running Back
On Monday evening, when everyone was still celebrating Justin Jefferson’s return to the field, NFL reporter Mike Garafolo announced on social media: “The #Vikings are signing RB Xazavian Valladay, per his agent. Former undrafted free agent of the #Texans was with the #Saints from last November to though this spring. Now headed to Minnesota.”
A depth running back was not really on anyone’s wishlist, as Skol Nation has focused on potentially adding another backup QB candidate or a depth receiver with Jordan Addison sidelined with a suspension and Jalen Nailor suffering a hand injury.
Regardless, it’s a new running back. Valladay joins the room that includes starter Aaron Jones and top backup Jordan Mason. The duo will take most of the carries in the regular season. Behind them, the RB3 gig is vacant. Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott compete for that, while undrafted rookie Tre Stewart is completing the group and needs a big preseason performance to enter the race.
Valladay is 27 years old. He played his college ball at Wyoming (four seasons) and Arizona State (his final college season). He was quite productive, rushing for 4,473 yards and 35 touchdowns in his career. The halfback eclipsed 1,000 yards in three seasons and tabulated 16 rushing scores in his lone campaign at Arizona State. Throughout his five years, he also added 873 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
He went undrafted in 2023 and signed with the Houston Texans, who cut him during training camp. His next stint was with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he was just a camp body and failed to make the 53-man roster. The New York Jets then added him to the practice squad, and he made his NFL debut in Week 18 of 2023, playing 12 snaps on special teams.
Valladay was re-signed after the season, but was once again waived on cutdown day and stashed on the practice squad for a couple of weeks before being released. The New Orleans Saints picked him up last November, but waived him a couple of months ago. Since then, he has been waiting for his shot, and here it is.
In the past two preseasons, Valladay rushed 41 times for 83 yards, with 80 of those coming after contact. He also caught eight passes for 88 yards.
Ahead of the draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein wrote about the prospect, “Valladay runs a little bigger than his measured size, thanks to his decisive mindset and his acceleration into contact. He will get what is blocked and keep the play on the designed track, but he doesn’t have the change of direction or instincts to create for himself when it’s not blocked up. Valladay is competitive and productive, but he fails to stand out in any single area.”
He’s 5’11” and 204 lbs with a 40-yard dash of 4.46.
With the Vikings, Valladay is a long shot to make the 53-man roster, but he’ll likely get some touches in the preseason to make a case for himself. Jones and Mason certainly won’t suit up again. Scott has turned some heads in his preseason action and might unseat fourth-year player Chandler.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.