Someone has the Vikings drafting a running back in the first round this year

NFL Media’s Peter Schrager has the Minnesota Vikings selecting a running back with their 2018 first-round pick in his most recent mock draft.

It is not necessarily a glaring need for them, but the Minnesota Vikings selecting a running back in the 2018 NFL Draft would not really be too shocking.

With Dalvin Cook returning from a torn ACL, Jerick McKinnon likely not re-signing this year, and Latavius Murray’s future with the team uncertain, it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world for the Vikings to take a running back in the 2018 draft.

Would it be an option Minnesota would consider with their first-round selection this year? It doesn’t seem likely, but NFL Media’s Peter Schrager believes this could possibly be the case.

In his first mock draft of the year, Schrager has the Vikings selecting LSU running back Derrius Guice with the 30th overall pick in the 2018 draft. The reporter explained why he thinks this could actually end up happening this year.

"“Yes, the Vikings have Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook both under contract for 2018. If Guice falls this far, GM Rick Spielman has never been scared to go Best Player Available.” Minnesota Vikings The Viking Age 0d - 6 biggest draft steals in Minnesota Vikings history More headlines around FanSided: 1d - Former Vikings first-round pick could reportedly return to NFC North 1d - Bears analyst has extremely embarrassing Kirk Cousins take 1d - 6 Vikings who (maybe) won't make the 53-man roster in 2023 2d - Which teams could be drafting a quarterback next year? 2d - Predicting what the Vikings will do in the 2023 NFL Draft based on 2022 More News at The Viking Age"

Depending on what happens in free agency, Minnesota could definitely be in a position to select the best player available when the draft comes around this spring.

If Guice is actually still on the board when the Vikings are on the clock in the first round, it would pretty hard for Minnesota to pass up the opportunity to use their pick on him.

The 5-foot-10, 212 pound running back is coming off a career at LSU that saw him rush for a combined 2,638 yards, score 29 touchdowns, and catch 27 passes in the last two seasons.

With Cook and Murray as the only running backs currently under contract for the Vikings, Guice would be a great option for the team to add to their roster this year. The former LSU running back could even make it easier for Minnesota to part ways with Murray before his current deal expires in 2020.

Next: Vikings top 5 priorities for the 2018 offseason

It is definitely an interesting thought thrown out there by Schrager, but one that could actually become a reality for the Vikings at this year’s draft.