6 free-agent running backs the Vikings could sign in 2020
By Dean Jones
Devontae Booker
Devontae Booker’s career has tailed off somewhat after being a highly touted college prospect. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos back in 2016 and he had two solid seasons until the arrivals of Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman.
This included 877 total yards and five touchdowns during a rookie campaign where he showed real potential to emerge as an every-down running back at the NFL level. However, Denver ended up demoting Booker to special teams duty for the majority of the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
Situations like this normally result in both parties moving on and Booker could represent a steal at the low salary he is expected to command in free agency. What the Vikings do at the position will be largely dependent on whether Ameer Abdullah opts to get an increased role elsewhere.
Booker’s decreasing opportunities with the Broncos are not really of his own doing. He couldn’t legislate for an undrafted player like Lindsay rising to prominence or the team opting to stifle his development and take Freeman in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
If Booker decides to move on to potentially force his way into a starting spot somewhere else, then Minnesota could bring him in as another option to compete during training camp.
Bringing in a low risk, high reward player like Booker would provide cover to both Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison and ensure the Vikings’ offense has another proven body to call upon if either gets hurt.