Most Minnesota Vikings loyalists expect the franchise to draft a running back in April.
NFL.com Posts Spicy Mock Draft for Vikings
It’s the 1st-Round aspect that raised eyebrows this week when NFL.com published its latest mock draft.
Daniel Jeremiah connected the Vikings to Ohio State tailback TreVeyon Henderson with the 24th overall pick, perhaps a bit of a stretch on the consensus big board, but one that few Vikings fans would complain about.
“The Vikings have had an up-close look at what a dynamic runner can do for an offense that also features a loaded passing attack (SEE: Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit). Minnesota finds its own RB weapon in Henderson with Aaron Jones headed for free agency,” Jeremiah wrote about Henderson to Minnesota.
Minnesota is tentatively expected to re-sign Aaron Jones, a 30-year-old tailback who held down RB1 duties last season. If that does not happen, other free-agent options like Najee Harris, Javonte Williams, J.K. Dobbins, and Rico Dowdle, to name a few, will be available on the open market.
But no matter, the purple team probably needs a young running back. The franchise has struggled to produce an efficient running game since Mike Zimmer left after the 2021 season, and perhaps a youthful alternative like Henderson or his Ohio State teammate, Quinshon Judkins, would do the trick.
Earlier this month, Janik Eckardt of PurplePTSD, a sister site to VikingsTerritory, predicted Jones and Henderson as Minnesota’s 2025 RB1-RB2 combo. “Minnesota will re-sign impending free agent Aaron Jones after a season with 1,500 yards from scrimmage. However, at the age of 30, he is not the long-term option. That man will arrive in the draft. Kevin O’Connell will fall in love with Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson, who is a good pass protector, a receiving threat, and a solid runner,” Eckardt explained.
Henderson is 22 and known as a workhorse-style running back. He’s 5’11” and 210 pounds. The Draft Network‘s Damian Parson describes his skill set: “Henderson projects a scheme-versatile three-down starting running back who can handle a strong workload without losing effectiveness. His potential as a pass protector and pass catcher can raise his pro ceiling if he is coached and developed in those areas of his game.”
The knock on Henderson? He’s got a little bit of injury history, missing time during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns.
It’s also worth noting that Henderson could be a Vikings draft target if the club trades down on draft night to accumulate more capital.
The NFL Draft is 64 days away.
Henderson ranks 51st on the Consensus Big Board as of February 18th, so choosing him at No. 24 would be a bit of a reach.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.