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The QB position surrounding the Minnesota Vikings is the focal point of the offseason; other areas, especially on offense, need improvement if the team wants to reach the postseason this 2026 NFL season.
One area of the offense that lacked in 2025 was the running game. As a result, finding a running back to eventually replace the veteran Aaron Jones Sr., whether it be in free agency or the draft, should be a priority.
Ahead of the NFL Scouting Combine, NFL Media analyst Charles Davis shared his mock draft before the marquee event for draft prospects, and he has the Vikings addressing their need for a running back in Round 1 with former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Jeremiyah Love.
“Are teams undervaluing the running back position again?” Davis wrote in his NFL.com mock draft that was published on Feb. 19. “The Vikings cannot pass on a top-three talent in this year’s draft. Head coach Kevin O’Connell will find plenty of plays for him.”
Furthermore, Love was recently spoke about the possibility of playing in Minnesota should the Vikings have the opportunity to select him at No. 18.
“I would be blessed to go there,” Love said in a Feb. 6 video from “The Paul Farrington Show.” “Lot of great guys.”
Love recorded 433 carries for 2,882 yards and has scored 42 touchdowns in 41 games for Notre Dame in his college career, per StatMuse.
Vikings Insider Shares Thoughts on Jeremiyah Love
Love has been in the draft speculation for the Vikings at No. 18. Recently, The Athletic’s Alec Lewis shared his take on the Vikings’ potential pursuit of Love at the 2026 NFL Draft on the Dec. 30 edition of “The Alec Lewis Show.”
“Jeremiyah Love is the Notre Dame product who’s going to be a first-rounder and, by all accounts, is one of the premier players in this draft, “ Lewis said. “It just becomes a question of whether he is going to be there when the Vikings are picking and, if he is, whether it makes sense for this Vikings team, given where the roster stands, to take a running back…
“I have always been a best-player-available guy. If your confidence level that Jeremiyah Love is going to hit as a premium-style player is, let’s say, 70 percent, that is probably the route you should go.”
Should Minnesota Find Their RB1 in Free Agency?
Meanwhile, CBS Sports’ Robert Turbin sees Minnesota finding their RB1 in free agency as he sees Super Bowl LX MVP Kenneth Walker III being a fit for the Vikings.
“Aaron Jones has been one of my favorite running backs for a long time in the league, but the truth of the matter is he’s getting long in the tooth, and so it may be time for the Vikings to move off of him,“ Turbin said during a Feb. 17 appearance on CBS Sports HQ.
“Jordan Mason, with his downhill, physical running style, is another player you can pair with Kenneth Walker III. Jordan Mason is not going to give you those explosive runs.
“If J.J. McCarthy is going to be your starting quarterback next season, you need balance, dominance, and explosive play ability in your ground game. Kenneth Walker III brings that capability to the run scheme, which is why I think he’s a good fit for the Minnesota Vikings.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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