The Minnesota Vikings are entering one of the most unpredictable offseasons in franchise history. After the firing of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the team chose not to hire a replacement until after the 2026 NFL Draft.
That said, there are no longer ties to the current roster from the general manager, meaning changes could come at nearly any time and impact the entire Vikings roster. Making the offseason even more unpredictable is the fact that there may be salary cap casualties while Minnesota addresses needs at multiple positions.
All eyes will be on the Vikings at the 2026 NFL Draft. How they choose to address their picks will say a lot about the direction of the franchise and how they feel about their current roster. Their first few picks will likely be based on available talent rather than on position of need.
A recent mock draft has the Minnesota Vikings taking one of the top running back prospects at the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Minnesota Vikings don't necessarily need to add a running back this offseason. Still, Cody Williams at FanSided has the purple and gold looking to improve their offense by selecting a dynamic weapon at No. 49 overall.
Despite having Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason under contract, Williams picked Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price in the second round for the Vikings. It's easy to see why the 22-year-old rusher is such an interesting pick for Minnesota.
Standing five-foot-eleven and weighing 209 pounds, Price is a consistent contributor who looks to be getting better with every passing year. In 2025, he carried the ball 113 times in 12 games, gaining 674 yards and 11 touchdowns while adding six catches for 87 yards and two more scores.
Price is a redshirt junior who declared for the 2026 NFL Draft in December. Although the man above him on Notre Dame's depth chart is expected to be selected before him, both Jeremiyah Love and
Jadarian Price have the potential to be a great contributor at the professional level.
Love was a finalist for the Heisman and should be the top running back selected at the 2026 NFL Draft. It's astounding that Price was able to put together the solid collegiate career he did while being a backup for a high-profile rusher like Love.
Unless a move is made that causes Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason to no longer be with the Minnesota Vikings, using an early pick on the position might be a bit surprising. However, that doesn't mean Jadarian Price won't be high on the draft board for the purple and gold at the 2026 NFL Draft,