Vikings have interest in 'premier' running back prospect ahead of 2026 NFL draft

It's no secret that the Minnesota Vikings don't have a great situation at running back entering the 2026 campaign.

The Vikings managed to keep Aaron Jones on a reworked contract, but he's also 31 years old and is coming off an injury-plagued season. Behind him is Jordan Mason, who doesn't offer much outside of his between-the-tackles running.

With the free-agent market having dried up, all eyes are on the Vikings picking a running back earlier than later in the 2026 NFL draft.

One of their targets is Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson, who draft analyst Ryan Fowler reports is going to visit the Vikings ahead of the draft.

"Source: Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson has a visit scheduled with the Minnesota Vikings," Fowler reported.

Fowler goes on to note that Johnson could be the second-best running back in this year's class behind Notre Dame superstar Jeremiyah Love.

"Potential RB2 in the class was named Big Ten RB of the year in ‘25 after rushing for 1,451 yds and 12 TDs. One of the premier ball-carriers in the class," Fowler added on Johnson.

Emmett Johnson scouting report

At 5-foot-10 and 202 pounds, Johnson has the ideal frame to be an NFL running back, especially with his impressive blend of speed and power.

He isn't an elite pass-catcher by any stretch, but he's got the goods to make an impact in that area.

Here's more on Johnson, per Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

Johnson is a hard-charging, gap-scheme runner. He brings a steady dose of urgency, decisiveness and fairly predictable run tracks. Johnson’s production and game-by-game consistency stand out despite average size and top-end speed. He steps on the accelerator once he touches the ball, but the run becomes segmented when he attempts to cut laterally. He struggles to create for himself when the point of entry is cloudy. Johnson can beat linebackers to the run fit but won’t usually run through them with power. He’s able to help as a pass-catcher and projects as a solid backup best suited for downhill concepts.

Barring a massive trade up and/or slide, the Vikings are going to be out of range to take Love, but they could still land themselves a solid back in Johnson, who could come off the board on Day 2.

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