A 3-Step Plan at RB for the Vikings
A re-signing, a rookie and a reimagined role should be part of the Vikings plan at running back in 2025
The running back position is tricky to figure out in today’s NFL. Just ask the New York Giants.
Big Blue’s mismanagement of the Saquon Barkley situation turned into an all-time embarrassment, as they let one of the most productive and popular players in recent team history walk out the door to join a division rival. Barkley went on to rush for 2,000 yards, earn NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors and win a Super Bowl.
In hindsight, the Giants’ decision obviously looks foolish. But the decision fell in line with the way so many teams have handled the running back position of late. It’s become a non-premium position where teams populate it with a committee approach.
It was only 15 years ago or so when backs like Adrian Peterson, Jamal Charles and LaDanian Tomlinson were anchors for offenses and could dominate games with 25-carry, 150-yard performances multiple times per season.
Now, it’s not uncommon for teams to have two or three players rush for 100 yards in a game over the course of a season. Heck, even quarterbacks are getting in on the action, with five of them rushing for more than 500 yards last season and a sixth (Anthony Richardson) tallying 499 yards.
That leads us to today’s question: What should the Vikings do at running back this offseason?
It’s a timely question for the Vikings because their two best players at the position - Aaron Jones and Cam Akers - are both set to hit free agency next week. Plus, the market is poised to be flooded with quality backs, such as Cleveland’s Nick Chubb, Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris and Denver’s Javonte Williams.
Additionally, this year’s draft class is chock-full of high upside backs who are expected to be taken between the 2nd and 5th rounds.
I will lay out the approach I would take if I were the Vikings. A few points of context, though, before I unveil my proposal…
There is not a singular right way to attack the Vikings’ situation at running back. My approach is one option. There are entirely divergent approaches that could make sense.
A significant driving force behind my approach is economics. While the Vikings are set to spend generously in free agency, they are also a pass-first offense which boasts a dynamite wide receiver tandem, a young franchise quarterback and a head coach who calls plays and has a keen eye for the pass game. As such, the Vikings must dedicate expenditure on positions and players accordingly.
Intangibles matter. A lot. And we are not in a position to evaluate that part of the personnel process since we are not in the building. We can make educated guesses as to the intangible factors, and that’s something I tried to incorporate.
Here is my three-step proposal for the Vikings’ running back room heading into 2025.
Re-Sign Aaron Jones | Let Cam Akers Leave
Jones returns for his second season with the Vikings but it would be with the expectation of a reduced role. He set a career high in carries in 2024 and that number needs to come down in 2025. More on this with Step #2 below.
A key part of re-signing Jones is doing so on a one-year or maybe two-year deal that pays him no more than he earned last season, which was reportedly $7 million. While Jones is surely able to compartmentalize what he wants with what is financially prudent and opportunistic, he has made it clear he loves being in Minnesota and feels the situation with the Vikings is special.
Based on how complimentary O’Connell has been of Jones publicly and the fact the team and player’s representatives agreed to move the void date of his contract back to provide more time to discuss a new contract, retaining Jones at a reasonable salary is a plausible and appealing outcome.
Interestingly enough, Akers has had some flashes with the Vikings. At times, he’s looked the most natural in Kevin O’Connell’s offense among the group of backs in the room since 2022. But the upside is higher for this group if the Vikings go a different direction.
Draft a Running Back on Day 2
As mentioned, this class of running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft is stacked. The Vikings don’t have a full allotment of selections due to trades made last year and in 2023, but they could recoup some of those picks by trading back from their spot in the 1st round (No. 24) this year.
Assuming the Vikings are able to get their hands on at least one selection in the 2nd or 3rd round, I would target one player in either of the two groups listed below.
Group A: TreyVeon Henderson, Kaleb Johnson, Ollie Gordon II
Group B: DJ Giddens, Omarion Hampton, Bhayshul Tuten, Cam Skattebo
Players in Group A are ones I would categorize as projected RB1s in the NFL. With Jones’ presence on the roster, they may not be the lead back in 2025. But they should transition into the lead role at some point during 2025 or in time for the 2026 season. If you get your hands on a player from Group A, then you are set at the position in 2025 with Jones, Group A Player and Ty Chandler.
Players in Group B may one day be lead backs but I don’t project it for 2025 or 2026. They would come in and be contributors as soon as 2025, but it would be as a complement to Jones. If this is the route you go, then an upgrade at RB3 over Chandler should be considered, whether it be another draft choice in 2025, a post-draft free agent signing or a trade.
Challenge the C.J. Ham Roster Spot
I am not already at the conclusion that Ham should be cut. Far from it, actually. He currently holds down the fort on a position I would try to keep on my roster and he professionally and skillfully fulfills that role each season.
Also, he is a model teammate and citizen.
With that being said, his place on the roster should be challenged in multiple ways.
First, from a philosophical standpoint, I would get together as an offensive coaching staff and look at the third and fourth tight end positions and the fullback position. I would determine what personnel groupings we want to use next season, what types of players need to occupy those positions (blockers, pass catchers, special teams) and how we feel about current rostered players fulfilling those roles.
Since the Vikings are so skilled in the passing game with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, TJ Hockenson and Jones, I would really lean into run blocking and physicality with the TE3, TE4 and FB positions.
The good news for Ham is he fits the physicality bill. The bad news is it’s a big stretch to suggest he could fill a hybrid FB/TE role AND there are always players available via the draft and free agency who can fulfill a role like that.
It might be the year where the tough decision is made to move on from Ham. Or it might be that Ham can earn yet another trip around the sun on a roster. Either way, the final step in the three-step running back plan for the Vikings is to figure out the best path forward at FB/TE3/TE4.