Turns Out the Vikings Nearly Hit Reset at Running Back
The Minnesota Vikings achieved their primary free-agency goal when Kyler Murray arrived: acquiring a veteran arm to provide some security in the quarterback room. Other than that, the moves have mostly focused on depth players and refilling the special teams.
The decision-makers did go after a pricey free agent, according to a report from ESPN. Vikings writer Kevin Seifert suggested that Travis Etienne, the new runner of the New Orleans Saints, was high on Minnesota’s list.
He wrote on Wednesday, “One thing we heard: The Vikings shopped for running backs and were prepared to move on from veteran Aaron Jones Sr. but ultimately decided to offer him a pay cut to stay, which he accepted. The free agent that most caught their eye was Travis Etienne Jr., who fit their preferred profile as a runner/receiver, but he signed with New Orleans.”
The Aaron Jones sweepstakes were quite strange. He was reported to be on the chopping block and in the final hour, the Vikings changed course and kept the veteran back on the squad rather than cutting him for cap savings purposes. He took a pay cut, which helped achieve part of the savings component without creating a significant hole at running back.
Jones, 31, is well past his prime, though he still was a solid ball-carrier for the Vikings. His strength is that he can run the ball, add value as one of the better pass-catchers in the business, and excel at pass protection. That do-it-all combination is rare and valuable.
Guess who else possesses those qualities? Mr. Etienne.
Entering the draft as a first-round pick in 2021, the Clemson product has rushed for 3,798 yards and 25 scores, while adding another 1,338 yards and 7 touchdowns through the air after missing his entire rookie season. He’s about four years younger than Jones.
It’s unsurprising that Etienne’s versatility has been on Kevin O’Connell’s radar, as the coach has always valued backs with a knack for pass protection and those who can catch the ball naturally.
That skill set was worth $47.4 million for four years, at least for the Saints. It’s unclear whether the Vikings came close to that number. Etienne’s paycheck is a top-ten salary at the running back position, slotted in the range of Josh Jacobs, James Cook, or Kyren Williams, which is reasonable for a guy with nearly 1,400 yards and 13 touchdowns from scrimmage last season.
After missing out, the Vikings will move forward with veteran backs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. The latter has already carved into Jones’ workload last season and that could continue with Jones aging another year.
Mason provides a powerful running element that the squad lacked in previous seasons. He is not, however, a reliable target in the passing game or a trustworthy pass protector, which makes Jones a decent sidekick for him as a third-down back. The only other halfback on the roster is Zavier Scott, who provided solid depth in 2025.
As the good free agents have already found a new home, the Vikings could look to add another ball-carrier in April’s draft. Jeremiyah Love is expected to be off the board by the time the Vikings have their top selection scheduled.
There will be several intriguing running backs available in the mid-rounds. The only two drafted running backs in the Kevin O’Connell era were Ty Chandler in 2022 and DeWayne McBride in 2023. Dalvin Cook’s draft day is nine years in the past and since then, the only semi-successful runner drafted was Alexander Mattison in 2019 — which was seven years ago.
The Vikings have recently met with Demond Claiborne out of Wake Forest, who could be on Minnesota’s radar.
Losing the race for Etienne doesn’t guarantee that the Vikings are in the market for a rookie back, but it surely confirms O’Connell’s running back type. He likes players who can run, catch, and block.
If you’re scanning the class to find the right RB for the Vikings, those should be moved up your board.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
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