The Minnesota Vikings have some retooling to do in the 2026 NFL Draft, and unlike last season, they will actually have the draft capital to get the job done.
With nine picks to work with, the Vikings will have plenty of options to fill some key positions, including offensive line, safety, cornerback, and a third wide receiver.
One other position that might get some attention in the process is at running back, as they already have Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones, but need to find the successor to Jones.
NFL reporter Arye Pulli recently shared that the Vikings are hosting Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson for a visit. Last season was a career year for Johnson as he rushed for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding another 370 yards receiving and three touchdowns.
Emmett Johnson might be the perfect replacement for Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones
There is a ton of buzz around Johnson, as he showed last season that he has the versatility to catch passes out of the backfield, and his 5.8 yards per carry show he's efficient every time he touches the football.
While he entered the draft process as a sure-fire Day 3 pick, there is now a strong possibility that he will get selected in the third round.
Mason appears to be the leading man for the starting running back job in Minnesota, as he is younger and still playing well with his 4.8 yards per carry from last season.
There is a bit more concern with Jones, though, as the team brought him back on a one-year deal after releasing him, but he's getting significantly less money in the process.
Jones battled through injuries last year and just didn't have the same burst and confidence that Vikings fans have seen from him. It was a bit of a surprise that the team brought him back, but it does at least give them depth at running back.
Now they need to find a future back to either join Mason for the next few years or replace him.
Johnson has all the tools to be a potential sleeper pick as a starter in the NFL. Vikings fans would love to have that kind of versatility thrive in head coach Kevin O'Connell's offense.