Breece Hall, New York Jets
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(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings need to upgrade their running game after failing to have a player rush for 1,000 yards last season. Moreover, if Minnesota goes with J.J. McCarthy as their starting QB, they need a better run game to take the pressure off his shoulders.
Aaron Jones Sr. is a reliable veteran, and Jordan Mason is a good RB2, but the Vikings need a player who is an RB1 or has that potential. As a result, Minnesota can use free agency or the NFL Draft in April to find that player.
For CBS Sports’ Damien Harris, he sees the Vikings going the free agency route and being one of four potential landing spots for New York Jets running back Breece Hall.
“Let’s look at the Minnesota Vikings and what they went through with J.J. McCarthy last year,”Harris said on the Feb. 20 edition of CBS Sports HQ. “Outside of the inconsistent play, it was just his lack of availability. There were a lot of times when J.J. McCarthy was not available to play.
“Then you look at the running back position, a guy like Aaron Jones, he’s had a lot of success for the Vikings, don’t get me wrong, but they still need a guy to come in and be their bell‑cow workhorse. To be quite honest, I think outside of Justin Jefferson, the Minnesota Vikings need a guy that’s going to step up and be an alpha on offense.”
Breece Hall Would Bring Two-Way Impact to Vikings
Moreover, Harris notes that Hall would bring traits that the Vikings don’t have at running back, with someone who can contribute on the ground and in the passing game. Minnesota could also be adding a player who can help take the focus off of Jefferson and keep the opposing defense from focusing on the Vikings’ star wideout.
“They don’t have a ton of playmakers or a ton of guys to where if there are a lot of eyes and attention on Jetta, they can go somewhere else with the football,” Harris added.
“And again with Breece Hall, with what he is able to do both running and catching the football and in pass protection, I think it just overall elevates this Minnesota offense, which is struggling right now, especially again they’ve got to figure out what they’re going to do with J. J. McCarthy and then start to work from there.”
Hall has had 755 carries for 3,398 yards and has scored 27 touchdowns in 56 games for the Jets in his career,per StatMuse. As a result, Hall knows what it takes to be an RB1, which is something the Vikings need.
Could Minnesota Draft a Running Back Instead?
Meanwhile, NFL Media analyst Charles Davis shared his mock draft ahead of the scouting combine, with the Vikings finding their RB1 in the draft, as he projects formerNotre Dame Fighting Irish star Jeremiyah Love to Minnesota in Round 1.
“Are teams undervaluing the running back position again?”Davis wrote in his NFL.com mock draft that was published on Feb. 19. “The Vikings cannot pass on a top-three talent in this year’s draft. Head coach Kevin O’Connell will find plenty of plays for him.”