Don’t Be Surprised if the Vikings Target a Running Back in the NFL Draft
Josh Frey
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It’s no secret that the running back position has not been considered particularly valuable in the NFL over recent years. Since 2011, just 17 RBs have been selected in the first round, and even fewer have gone on to have lengthy NFL careers. There were of course two taken in the 2021 draft, Najee Harris to the Steelers and Travis Etienne to the Jaguars, but Etienne didn’t play a single snap after suffering a season-ending foot injury in week two of the preseason.
Despite the running back position’s bearish outlook, that hasn’t stopped the Minnesota Vikings from building their offenses around elite running backs for much of the 21st century. Their most notable players are of course Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook; the only two 1000-yard rushers for the Vikings since 2006. Because of their continuous propensity for the position, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Minnesota dip into the RB pool again this spring.
Taking a look at Cook’s 2021 season, it was not unspectacular by any means. However, in an offseason where overpaying players at certain positions has been a major topic, Cook’s pay has gone a bit under-the-radar. The Vikings RB1 will carry a cap hit in 2022 of just under $11.9 million that ranks fifth in the NFL at the position. Since 2019, no Super Bowl winning team has had their highest paid RB rank among the top 30.
This is not to devalue what Cook has done for the Minnesota Vikings offense, especially over the past couple years. Last offseason, I wrote a piece essentially praising Cook for putting up such high rates of production despite the offensive line and Minnesota’s rushing scheme. That said, he is now going into his age-27 season and is coming off a year where he had a clear decline from 2020. Additionally, Alexander Mattison is set to hit free agency following the 2022 season. This may be an offseason where the Vikings start looking towards the future.
Looking at this class, it isn’t filled with sure-fire first rounders like last year. Both Harris and Etienne seemed like they were going to go somewhere in the late first round in 2021, and sure enough, that’s where they landed. This year, there are some talented players, but none have emerged as a true RB1.
This bodes well for a team like the Vikings that has needs at other positions but could look for a promising player later in the draft. Last year, they snagged Kene Nwangwu in the fourth round, and he emerged as one of the best return men in the league. It’s unlikely that he can be a three-down back, but he certainly has some potential as a receiving back.
If the Vikings were to target a running back, they’ll likely try to find one that can be used in a Dalvin Cook-type role. Well, if that’s the case, why not stay right within the Cook family? Dalvin’s younger brother James is entering the NFL Draft this spring after four successful years at Georgia. He is an explosive athlete that flashes much of the same elusivity and burst that has made Dalvin so successful with the Vikings. James look like he will go somewhere in the fourth or fifth rounds as of now. The Minnesota Vikings don’t have a fourth-round pick as of now, but if they can get him in the fifth round, why not take a shot?