Report: Vikings Targeting Backfield Help Early in NFL Draft

Between now and the start of Minnesota Vikings training camp, there will be a bunch of new faces added to the roster. Some will still come via free agency, where beyond the addition of Kyler Murray, the Vikings have been rather quiet this offseason

However, most roster additions, at this point, will come via the 2026 NFL Draft next month, and in the undrafted free agency signings that happen immediately afterward.

Most mock drafts and analyst projections have the Minnesota Vikings targeting secondary early, with the four picks they have in the first 100 overall draft picks. There’s also plenty of chatter surrounding TE, WR, OL, DL and RB.

Minnesota Vikings targeting top running backs in NFL Draft

In reality, the Vikings could go a lot of different directions early in the draft. But Tuesday on KFAN, Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling told Nine to Noon host Paul Allen that Minnesota isn’t just interested in taking a running back early next month.

The longtime local insider says “there’s a very good chance” the MN Vikings select one of the top college running backs available for 2026.

Allen: “Would you be surprised if [the Vikings] moved on a running back quite high in the draft.”

Goessling: “I would not be surprised by that. I think there’s a very good chance that they do that.”

Allen: “Very good you say?”

Goessling: “Yeah, because I think the concept of what they’re trying to do [offensively with new assistant] Frank Smith, some of the McDaniel stuff that they have been impressed by. I think it makes sense there. And you also have to think about the future.

Aaron Jones, you know, is going to be [32 in December]. So you’ve got to think about that going forward…Jones still has some speed, but we’ve seen it towards the end of seasons where he just hits a wall and the wear and tear slows him down a little bit.

So I think it makes a lot of sense for the continued investment in that position. And I would not be surprised if one of those top one hundred pick is on a running back.”

KFAN Radio – Nine to Noon w/Paul Allen

Some of the top running backs that Paul Allen mentioned, in his lead up question to the above back-and-forth, included the two top RBs in the 2026 NFL Draft, game-breaking talents Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) and Minneapolis’ own Emmett Johnson (Nebraska).

Other running backs to watch

Both backs were recently deemed “day one starters” by NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah. Others who will be available to the Vikings at No. 18 and beyond will be Mike Washington Jr (Arkansas), Jonah Coleman (Washington), Jadarian Price (Notre Dame) and Robert Henry Jr (Texas-San Antonio), but there are a ton of good backs in this draft.

Outside of signing Kyler Murray to a veteran’s minimum contract to be the presumed starting quarterback in 2026, the Minnesota Vikings have had a rather quiet offseason, when it comes to free agency signings.

For the most part, acting general manager Rob Brzezinski has been focused on retaining the Vikings’ own players. So far, Minnesota has brought back more than a few familiar faces fans once thought were as good as gone, including Aaron Jones and TJ Hockenson.

Meanwhile, they’ve only lost a handful of key contributors from 2025. Center Ryan Kelly retired and wide receiver Jalen Nailor signed a big deal in Las Vegas in free agency.

Related: Disgruntled Viking Now Hinting at a Return?

The Vikings also cut ties with disappointing one-and-done interior defensive linemen signings Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen. Beyond those departures, the head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores are doing their best to get the 2025 band back together + better QB play.

In fact, the team has even made it clear to veteran safety Harrison Smith that they’d love to have him back for yet another season, if he would like to play a 15th year in the NFL.

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