2025 NFL Free Agency and Draft: RB

[Bullazin]

It would be nice to find some real value at RB for a change. Dudes like Pacheco who runs like his hair is on fire and loves contact and in the lower rounds.

If we draft a RB in the first I’ll puke. IOL/IDL for gods sake.

[StickierBuns]

It would be nice to find some real value at RB for a change. Dudes like Pacheco who runs like his hair is on fire and loves contact and in the lower rounds.

If we draft a RB in the first I’ll puke. IOL/IDL for gods sake.

At #24, there will be an obvious BPA....which will probably really infuriate some fans, but its better than reaching for need. But I think the two (need and best player available) could very well align at this spot for Minnesota (CB,DT,OiL) as these are the types that usually 'slide' for teams taking or reaching for skill players.

[MaroonBells]

It would be nice to find some real value at RB for a change. Dudes like Pacheco who runs like his hair is on fire and loves contact and in the lower rounds.

If we draft a RB in the first I’ll puke. IOL/IDL for gods sake.

The depth at RB says you can probably wait to get one. But I think if it's not RB, it's CB or DT. I can almost guarantee it won't be IOL. I think it makes much more sense to fix that in free agency with proven players. We can't afford to wait for a rookie to develop. What's more, the IOL class doesn't appear to be very good at the top. The first one may not be drafted until the 2nd round.

[purplefaithful]

The depth at RB says you can probably wait to get one. But I think if it's not RB, it's CB or DT. I can almost guarantee it won't be IOL. I think it makes much more sense to fix that in free agency with proven players. We can't afford to wait for a rookie to develop. What's more, the IOL class doesn't appear to be very good at the top. The first one may not be drafted until the 2nd round.

^^^

Thats a pretty consistent take regarding IOL this year...

If we want to improve right away, FA is the most direct path (and the most expensive). 

Heck, FA may have more impact on the 2025 Vikings than the draft, might be more exciting too. That was certainly the case in 24.

[AGRforever]

At #24, there will be an obvious BPA....which will probably really infuriate some fans, but its better than reaching for need. But I think the two (need and best player available) could very well align at this spot for Minnesota (CB,DT,OiL) as these are the types that usually 'slide' for teams taking or reaching for skill players.

Unless Ashton Jeanty somehow fell I can't imagine we even need a skill player.  We've got them covered.  Lets fix your list above of CB or trenches.

[purplefaithful]

I'm not wed to how they attempt to fix this, but it has to be fixed for any hope of a playoff run. Jones and Akers as starting RB's next year wouldn't juice me up in the least. 

They finished in the bottom half of the league in total rushing yards (1,855), yards per attempt (4.1) and yards per game (109.1) during the regular season.

Most glaring was their nine rushing touchdowns, third-fewest in the league; only the Browns and Jets (8) and Cowboys (6) scored fewer.

And while those issues were often covered up by a successful passing attack, the final two games of the season showed how critical it is to have a run game that can relieve pressure from the quarterback and force defenses to diversify.

Startribune

[JimmyinSD]

I'm not wed to how they attempt to fix this, but it has to be fixed for any hope of a playoff run. Jones and Akers as starting RB's next year wouldn't juice me up in the least. 

They finished in the bottom half of the league in total rushing yards (1,855), yards per attempt (4.1) and yards per game (109.1) during the regular season.

Most glaring was their nine rushing touchdowns, third-fewest in the league; only the Browns and Jets (8) and Cowboys (6) scored fewer.

And while those issues were often covered up by a successful passing attack, the final two games of the season showed how critical it is to have a run game that can relieve pressure from the quarterback and force defenses to diversify.

Startribune

we saw both of those RBs rip off nice runs when they had good lanes to do it with,  fix the damn OL and that will vastly improve the running game... you know why you see the low TD numbers?  our IOL cant get any push and in the redzone you compress the D making it even more clogged in the middle,  and you cant always run outside the tackles as the defenses are expecting that due to the lack of interior push.

RB is the least worrisome position for me on the team right now.

[MaroonBells]

we saw both of those RBs rip off nice runs when they had good lanes to do it with,  fix the damn OL and that will vastly improve the running game... you know why you see the low TD numbers?  our IOL cant get any push and in the redzone you compress the D making it even more clogged in the middle,  and you cant always run outside the tackles as the defenses are expecting that due to the lack of interior push.

RB is the least worrisome position for me on the team right now.

The only RB under contract is Ty Chandler. 

Aaron Jones seems like a smart guy. He likely knows he'll be 31 before end of next season and he can't command what he once did. So I think there's a decent chance he signs another cheap 1-year deal this spring. And it would be great to have him back...as part of a committee or as a backup. But you can bet the Vikings will bring on JJ's RBOTF this offseason, either in free agency, trade or the draft.

[StickierBuns]

 But you can bet the Vikings will bring on JJ's RBOTF this offseason, either in free agency, trade or the draft.

Agreed. They want that skillset quad of JJM, RB1, Jets and Hock to set that window moving forward.

[Canthony]

Agreed. They want that skillset quad of JJM, RB1, Jets and Hock to set that window moving forward.

The RB class is so deep this year. Just not sure when you take one when our picks are already so limited.