The Minnesota Vikings need to upgrade their running game, so are there any free-agent running backs who could help them in 2024?
When the Minnesota Vikings were coached by Mike Zimmer, the running game was a priority. In his seven years in Minnesota, Zimmer’s team ranked in the top 10 of rushing attempts and rushing yards four times, and Dalvin Cook was considered to be the top weapon on the team.
Flash forward to the past two years and the ground game has taken a backseat under Kevin O’Connell.
The Vikings have ranked 28th in rushing attempts in both seasons since O’Connell took over in 2022 and the focus has shifted from getting the ball to the running backs to getting it to Justin Jefferson.
This is more than just a shift in play-calling. The Vikings released Cook instead of eating his $14 million cap hit last season and decided to roll with Alexander Mattison.
The experiment failed as Mattison didn’t have a single rushing touchdown in 180 attempts while contingency plans Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride, and Cam Akers either got hurt or didn’t live up to expectations.
This creates an objective for the Vikings to improve the running game in 2024. While there are plenty of options in the draft, Minnesota can also dive into free agency by taking a big swing or adding more competition to the backfield.
So who are free-agent options the Vikings can add to their offensive backfield this offseason and how could these backs enhance the team's running game in 2024?