Minnesota Vikings fans are prevalent throughout the state. With some of our neighbors not having a professional team to cheer for, there are plenty of Vikings fans there as well. Iowa would be representative of that reality. Why not give them a reason to be excited and draft Kaleb Johnson?
How About the Iowa Connection for Vikings?
If you are unfamiliar with his game, this is the time to assimilate yourself. While Ashton Jeanty is the unquestioned top running back in the upcoming April draft, Johnson can make a strong case for being the second-best option.
Last season with the Hawkeyes, Johnson led the Big Ten Conference with 1,537 rushing yards. His 21 touchdowns also paced the conference. For a team that has often struggled to generate offense, it was the Johnson show.
Minnesota had the Hawkeyes in a good position at halftime during their game with the Floyd of Rosedale on the line. Johnson wasn’t having any of that and ripped off a season-high 206 yards with three touchdowns. After having just seven total receptions for the Hawkeyes the past two seasons, he also put up 22 receptions this season.
The Vikings absolutely need to figure out the running back position this offseason. Aaron Jones is currently a free agent, and Cam Akers is, too. That leaves just Ty Chandler as a legitimate option on the active roster.
Draft guru Thor Nystrom defined Johnson in saying, “Johnson will appeal to zone-run offenses looking for a bellcow. I expect Johnson to be exactly that for his new NFL team immediately.”
That’s exactly the type of player that Minnesota should be seeking. It’s unlikely that they’ll be in play for Jeanty. Everyone after him could be a consideration, and Johnson makes sense as both a fit and a fan favorite.
There’s a good chance that Minnesota will find a new long-term answer at running back this offseason. With limited draft capital but a deep class, they could seek to use that outlet to do so.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.