There’s a Running Back the Vikings Should Sign
The Minnesota Vikings’ roster doesn’t have many weaknesses after the 2025 free agency and the NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean the team can’t improve even more via extra additions.
There’s a Running Back the Vikings Should Sign
The club has onboarded about 35 new players since the start of March, setting a path for Super Bowl contendership as early as now, assuming quarterback J.J. McCarthy is the real deal.
And if the franchise wishes to get richer in the next few weeks, it should sign running back J.K. Dobbins, formerly of the Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens.
J.K. Dobbins Is Available — Get Him
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has a tad bit of cap space remaining — $17.3 million — some of which will be used on the new draft class. But that would be more than enough to add Dobbins, whose market value is likely around $3 million per season.
Dobbins curiously hasn’t signed anywhere in the NFL through seven weeks of free agency, and truth be told, he performed quite well in Los Angeles last season, tabulating 1,058 yards from scrimmage, 9 touchdowns, and 4.7 yards per touch.
The Chargers drafted North Carolina runner Omarion Hampton last week, while signing veteran tailback Najee Harris in March. They’re set at running back and won’t need Dobbins.
So, the Vikings should scoop him. Plain and simple.
Why an Extra RB?
No, Minnesota doesn’t have an emergent need at halfback. But who cares? Running backs always get hurt throughout a regular season, and the Vikings just so happen to employ Aaron Jones, who will turn 31 in December, and Jordan Mason, a newcomer playmaker who missed five games due to injury with the San Francisco 49ers last year.
Ty Chandler is the RB3, and he could be released this summer if Minnesota adds another running back — like Dobbins.
Meanwhile, Minnesota has struggled to run the ball effectively during the Kevin O’Connell era, ranking 27th via rushing DVOA in 2022, 27th in 2023, and 20th last season. His offense will never fully churn until O’Connell drags that efficiency rating into the Top 12.
Dobbins can help, and he would hedge the bet nicely against eventual injuries to Jones or Mason.
It’s also worth noting Adofo-Mensah didn’t draft a rookie runner last weekend — during one of the deepest RB classes in years.
The Current RB Corps
Without Dobbins, the Vikings’ RB room looks like this after the draft:
- Aaron Jones
- Jordan Mason
- Ty Chandler
- Tre Stewart
- Zavier Scott
There is room for one more on a summer roster, and Dobbins would assuredly showcase the juice to earn a 53-man roster spot, probably edging Chandler for RB3.
The Chiefs Also a Dobbins Suitor, in Theory
Minnesota, if interested in Dobbins, won’t be the only club nibbling at Dobbins’ free agency. The Chiefs could be a landing spot as well.
BoltBeat.com‘s Jason Reed wrote Sunday about the possibility of Dobbins to Kansas City: “Kansas City went into the NFL Draft needing a running back and didn’t draft one until the seventh round. As promising as Chiefs fans may think Brashard Smith is, he won’t fill the running back void the team has going into the 2025 season. That opens the door for Dobbins to join the Chiefs and why wouldn’t he jump at the opportunity? Not only is Dobbins looking to extend his NFL career but he is also looking to win.”
“There is no better place for Dobbins to accomplish those two things than the Chiefs. While the Chargers may have moved on from Dobbins (likely because of injury concerns), let’s not forget how good he was for the Bolts last season. Dobbins was the engine of the Chargers offense as the team was noticeably different when he wasn’t on the field.”
The Chiefs have Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt in line to hold down RB1 and RB2 duties this autumn. Kansas City also drafted SMU’s Brashard Smith on Saturday, a man heavily linked to the Vikings during the draft’s lead-up.
Reed added, “The former Ohio State running back averaged 4.6 yards per carry and 69.6 rushing yards per game while also being a passing weapon for Justin Herbert. Now imagine that in a Chiefs offense with Patrick Mahomes under center. As long as he is healthy, Dobbins is a lethal running back who would level the Chiefs’ offense up in 2025.”
“The Chiefs were right to wait until after the NFL Draft just in case a big-name running back fell to them in a smart spot. But with that not happening, the most logical move for Kansas City is to sign Dobbins.”
Other Free Agent Options at RB
Suppose Minnesota desires an extra running back, but Dobbins is not the choice. These RB3 types are available on the open market:
- Cam Akers
- Nick Chubb
- Chase Edmonds
- Gus Edwards
- Nyheim Hines
- D’Ernest Johnson
- Jamaal Williams
Akers would likely be considered the frontrunner due to his Vikings ties in 2023 and 2024.
Vikings Can Be Greedy Nowadays
Some might balk at the idea of a sixth running back on the 90-man roster, and that’s fine. But Minnesota is uniquely positioned to get filthy deep on offense and defense. It’s suddenly “one of those teams” that can add roster depth just because, smack dab in the middle of the J.J. McCarthy era, when team-building is easier because a quarterback isn’t hogging all the cap space.
Dobbins is intriguing because he could play RB1, RB2, or RB3 if the team asked. He’s also a fantastic pass-blocking tailback, which this brand of Vikings adores.
Dobbins will turn 27 in December.
The Vikings Have Done It Again
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