One Vikings Draft Pick Can Be Penciled In
With free agency right around the corner, Minnesota’s roster has some massive uncertainties; even the identity of the starting quarterback is still in the air. Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has to replace (or re-sign) a long list of in-house free agents.
1 Vikings Draft Pick Can Be Penciled In
On that list are running backs Aaron Jones and Cam Akers, who formed the duo in the backfield following Akers’ trade acquisition.
Jones upgraded the running back position from Alexander Mattison, who held the RB1 keys in the previous campaign, and Akers proved to be a capable backup. However, Jones is on the wrong side of 30 and was repeatedly dinged up last season, while Akers has already gone through two torn Achilles tendons and, at this point, doesn’t quite have the juice he once did.
Veteran Jones is coming off a season with a career-high in touches and rushing yards, still playing at a high level but the injuries limited his output in a handful of games, and he is unlikely to become more reliable in his 30s.
Regardless, the Vikings want to re-sign him, but pairing him with a rookie rusher seems to be the clear-cut plan.
Last month, head coach Kevin O’Connell detailed Minnesota’s offseason plan in the backfield.
“The big thing for me is we loved having Aaron Jones; the impact he had. He was really, for the better part of his career, part of backfield committees, and for the most part, Aaron Jones was the featured back, played 17 games, he was able to be durable, over 1,500 yards all-purpose for us, catching the ball out of the backfield, running it at an elite level, so I would love to have Aaron back.”
Jones is projected to sign a contract worth about last year’s deal. He played on a one-year, $7 million contract in 2024 after the Packers decided to cut him.
“And then I just think we continue to grow in that room, whether it’s infusing a young player in the draft or maybe another player in free agency alongside Aaron Jones, hopefully. I think we will continue to grow in our run game; we’ll continue to grow to being a complete offense, which is very important.”
The plan is for Jones to return but to share the rock rather than being the unquestioned RB1 who’s getting all the carries. That wingman can arrive in the draft or in free agency, although paying two veterans significant salaries doesn’t really seem to fit Adofo-Mensah’s vision.
On Monday, Alec Lewis from The Athletic confirmed that the club wants Jones to return, but a rookie rusher will likely be added in April, “Last week, Minnesota’s brass met with Drew Rosenhaus, who represents a bevy of Vikings players including running back Aaron Jones. The Vikings want to re-sign Jones, but even if they do, they are seeking more of a by-committee approach. Expect the Vikings to take a running back in the draft.”
The Vikings have only four draft picks, which will limit their flexibility. However, they could use one of those choices to secure the rights of a new halfback.
Ashton Jeanty was one of the players that met with the Vikings at the scouting combine. The Heisman runner-up from Boise State showed enormous potential in the last college season, but he might be out of reach when the Vikings are scheduled to pick first at pick 24.
The good news is that the running back class is viewed as one of the best ever, and there are numerous options available at 24 or even in the third or fifth rounds. To name a few:
- Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
- TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
- Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)
- Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)
- Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)
- Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)
- Devin Neal (Kansas)
- Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)
- D.J. Giddens (Kansas State)
- Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech)
The draft will be held from April 24th to April 26th, and it can safely be said that the Vikings want to add a running back at some point during the three-day event.
Vikings’ Free Agent Focus Is Forced to Shift
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