Vikings Could Land Elite Weapon
Under Kevin O’Connell, the Minnesota Vikings have lacked an elite running game, regardless of the RB’s identity. The coach has never fully leaned on the ground attack and after years of Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook carrying the rock, there’s been an absence of a great back on the roster.
That could change this offseason, if the Vikings acquire Miami’s De’Von Achane. He wants a contract extension and hasn’t reported to the Dolphins’ offseason workouts. Miami, meanwhile, is in a rebuilding phase and has already parted ways with several key players.
Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports suggested the Vikings should go for it.
He wrote, “The Vikings brought back Aaron Jones, but he’s 31 and constantly battling injuries. And while he’s a good receiver out of the backfield, Achane is a great one, a much faster and more dynamic player overall and seven years younger (24).”
The Vikings hired Aaron Jones on a one-year deal back in 2024 and extended his contract for two more years in 2025. Though he appeared in all games in his first campaign, injuries severely slowed him down last year. Jordan Mason was acquired via trade and he had a promising season. The duo will be back for 2026.
Achane would be an upgrade, however, as he is one of the league’s best backfield threats, having just completed a season with 1,350 rushing yards, 488 receiving yards and 12 scrimmage touchdowns. He logged more scrimmage yards and touchdowns than Minnesota’s duo combined.
Vacchiano added, “The Dolphins say they want to keep him after he ran for 1,350 yards and caught 67 passes for 488 yards last season. But they have the look of a team undergoing a fire sale, so surely they have their price. Achane will need a contract extension, so maybe a third-round pick and change will do it. The Dolphins would be crazy to say no for a second-rounder.”
His proposal included this year’s third-rounder (pick 82) and fifth-rounder (pick 163) for the former Texas A&M speedster.
The 24-year-old entered the league with legit track speed, running the 40-yard dash in the blazing speed of 4.32 seconds.
Unlike many other sprinters, the 2023 third-rounder has actually transferred that speed to the gridiron. He’s one of the most explosive offensive weapons in the game and every play could change the game. And that is exactly where he’s interesting for the Vikings. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are both solid, but they aren’t home run threats. His career 5.6 yards per carry highlights elite efficiency and big-play ability.
This week, the Dolphins kicked off their offseason workouts and Achane skipped the voluntary item on the team’s calendar. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, he is seeking a new contract.
At last week’s league meeting, the new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan shut down the trade rumors: “There is zero effort on my end to move Achane.”
Still, the Dolphins released or traded several notable players this offseason, as they enter a rebuild phase with the new GM and first-year head coach Jeff Hafley. Malik Willis was signed in free agency to succeed Tua Tagovailoa, who also landed on the chopping block despite a huge dead cap hit.
There’s been no indication that Achane would actually be available, but the Vikings should give Sullivan a call to make sure. Only a few offensive players in the NFL are as dynamic as the runner.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.