The Minnesota Vikings are hoping that the addition of Kyler Murray will improve their passing game, which features Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. However, another area of their offense that needs improvement is the running game.
Last season, the Vikings didn’t have a running back rush for over 1,000 yards, and while Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason are good depth pieces, they aren’t an RB1 option for Minnesota. As a result, could the Vikings look to draft one next month?
In his latest mock draft, Alec Lewis of The Athletic has the Vikings not only landing a running back but trading up from No. 18 to No. 11 with the Miami Dolphins, who would receive a 2027 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Moreover, Lewis’ reason for this trade is for the Vikings to secure one of the best offensive players in this year’s draft: Former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Jeremiyah Love.
“We’re starting this off with a bang,” Lewis wrote in his mock draft article that was published on March 19. “The Vikings have been patient in free agency, so why not take a big swing on an electric player? Will Love fall to No. 12? It’s a fair question.
Vikings Have Been Looking for Top Running Back in Past Years
Lewis adds that if the Vikings can somehow make a swing to draft Love it can take their offense to another level. In 2025, Jeremiyah Love rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns on 199 carries, averaging 6.9 yards per attempt. He also added 27 receptions for 280 yards and three touchdowns, per ESPN.
“Love’s fit in Minnesota is tantalizing,” Lewis added. “He has home-run hitting ability, which is currently lacking from the Vikings’ running backs room (made up of Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason). He is also an exceptional pass catcher. You can imagine how productive he’d be in a system that requires defenses to play vertically.”
Furthermore, Lewis’ reason for the Vikings trading up for a running back is that the team wants to draft a home-run hitter out of the backfield, as they eyed a couple of talented rushers but couldn’t land one in past drafts.
“The Vikings have eyed Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs in past years,” Lewis wrote. “Love can reach those levels. The Dolphins are in full rebuild mode. Scooping a couple of extra picks for the highly-regarded 2027 draft feels like a palatable enough return.”
NFL Draft Prospect Jadarian Price Open to Playing in Minnesota
Nonetheless, while drafting Love would be a dream scenario, could Minnesota trade back to acquire a different Notre Dame running back instead?
During a March 18th appearance on “Up & Adams,” Jadarian Price was asked about Minnesota being a potential landing spot for him in the upcoming draft next month.
“Minnesota, huh? I think that’d be nice,” Price told Adams. “Kyler Murray, Texas boy, shout out Texas. But yeah, I think that would be pretty cool.”
Price had 113 carries for 674 yards and scored 15 touchdowns in 12 games for Notre Dame in 2025, per StatMuse.
As for where Price is predicted to go in the 2026 NFL Draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the running back going in the late first round. In his mock draft published on Feb. 24, Kiper has Price going to the Houston Texans at No. 28.
Vikings Insider Makes Big Jeremiyah Love Draft Prediction