Don’t Be Surprised if Vikings Add Another RB
In 2023 and 2024, the Minnesota Vikings decided they needed more running back help in the middle of the season.
The summer is young, and the Vikings could sign another running back before the start of the regular season. Here’s who would make sense.
So, as the legend goes, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded for veteran runner Cam Akers both times — yes, he traded for the same guy in consecutive seasons — adding more RB depth to the offense.
The trades signaled distrust in Ty Chandler, who is currently still on the depth chart. Some believe Chandler may be on the chopping block this summer because he doesn’t pass block very well, a theory that makes sense because, well, the Vikings always trade for Akers instead of rolling with Chandler.
And in about two months, NFL rosters will dwindle from 90 players to 53, creating a humongous swath of free agents.
Don’t be surprised if the Vikings add one of these running backs from post-roster trimdown free agency.
Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN)
The Denver Broncos drafted R.J. Harvey from the University of Central Florida. Dynasty fantasy football managers rejoiced. Fast forward to last week, and Denver signed veteran tailback J.K. Dobbins, dampening Harvey’s stock, at least in 2025.
But with the crowded house in Denver at running back, don’t rule out McLaughlin as a cut candidate in August. In fact, Denver has seemed to go out of its way this offseason to shove McLaughlin down the depth chart. Hence, the Harvey draft pick and Dobbins free-agent signing.
McLaughlin logged 572 yards from scrimmage last year and could be waived this summer if the Broncos keep Audric Estime at RB3.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton said about his running backs last week, “They’re going to get opportunities. Audric is going to get opportunities. We’ve seen Jaleel. Don’t try to figure out the club right now. It’s way too early.”
Denver Post‘s Parker Gabriel recently detailed McLaughlin’s 2024 performance: “According to Next Gen Stats, McLaughlin was 38th out of 44 qualified running backs in rushing yards over expected at minus-0.4 per carry. Javonte Williams, the only other qualified Broncos back, was No. 43. McLaughlin was No. 41 on the same list in rushing yards after contact (333).”
“He fared much better in terms of success rate, or rushes that produce a positive estimated points added, checking in No. 13 overall at 44.2%. McLaughlin, per NGS, also averaged 11.2 miles per hour at the line of scrimmage, the second-fastest mark among running backs with at least 100 carries behind only Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson. All of that adds up to a mixed bag in terms of production.”
Samaje Perine (CIN)
A savvy veteran, the Cincinnati Bengals have three running backs ahead of Samaje Perine on the current roster: Chase Brown, Zack Moss, and rookie Tahj Brooks. A quick glance suggests that Cincinnati will probably keep Brown, Moss, and Brooks over Perine, increasing the likelihood of Perine hitting the open market at the end of summer.
Perine crossed paths with a man named Kevin O’Connell in 2018 via the Washington Commanders while O’Connell offensively coordinated that squad. The two should know each other, and Perine is a prototypical RB3.
Cam Akers (NO)
Sure, Cam Akers signed with the New Orleans Saints last week. No one is disputing it.
But what are the odds of Akers beating out Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and Devin Neal for a roster spot? Miller could, in theory, be an odd man out, and Akers would be safe, but then one could just swap Akers and Miller on this list.
Moral of the story? The Vikings have proven they love Akers, and it wouldn’t be shocking to see him released by the Saints and scooped by Adofo-Mensah for a third straight year.
Dameon Pierce (HOU)
For a while in 2022 and during the 2023 offseason, Pierce was labeled as the next big thing in Houston, a team searching for a bellcow running back. Pierce registered 1,104 yards from scrimmage in 2022, playing just 13 games, and trended up for 2023.
But the sequels from Pierce never materialized — at all — and with Joe Mixon, Nick Chubb, and Woody Marks on the Texans’ roster, Pierce could be booted in late August.
He might be the most fascinating name on this list from a Vikings perspective, a perfect RB3 for Minnesota.
House of Houston‘s Jovan Alford wrote about Pierce last month, “With the Texans drafting Woody Marks and re-signing Dare Ogunbowale, things do not look good for Dameon Pierce heading into this upcoming season. The Houston Texans have made things quite interesting for veteran running back Dameon Pierce this offseason. Pierce, who is entering the final year of his rookie deal, saw the Texans take a rookie running back in the fourth round (Woody Marks) and re-sign veteran running back Dare Ogunbowale to a one-year contract.”
“When you have guys competing against each other for the RB3 spot, the deciding factor will likely be special teams, which leans heavily in Ogunbowale’s favor. Nonetheless, if the Texans believe they don’t have a clearly defined role for Pierce, they should trade him to try to recoup some value this summer instead of letting him go for nothing.”
Sounds like a short-timer, eh?
Antonio Gibson (NE)
The New England Patriots drafted TreVeyon Henderson in April, and he’ll coexist on Mike Vrabel’s depth chart with veteran Rhamondre Stevenson. New England also has a promising undrafted rookie, Trayveon Williams, in its roster orbit.
Gibson is on the Patriots’ roster bubble accordingly and could wind up as a free agent after roster cutdowns. He’s banked 4,670 yards from scrimmage in five seasons.
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