The Minnesota Vikings need to make an upgrade to the running back room this offseason with Aaron Jones St. likely out as a cut candidate or trade candidate.
Unfortunately for the purple, one free agent option is now off the table as the New York Jets will franchise tag running back Breece Hall. A former second-round draft pick, Hall tallied 3,398 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground and 1,642 yards and nine touchdowns in the passing game during his first four seasons.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that the Jets will tag him for $14.3 million this year. Hall later referenced the decision on social media.
“Always been the type to bet on myself. Been working … see yall soon, love,” Hall wrote.
The Vikings had been considered a quality landing spot in free agency for Hall, and he would have given Minnesota a strong 1,000-yard rusher. That would have taken pressure off of quarterback J.J. McCarthy, or whoever the Vikings will start under center.
What The Vikings Miss in Breece Hall
Hall would have allowed Jordan Mason to remain a quality No. 2 running back instead of an increased role if Jones is gone. As CBS Sports’ Damien Harris put it, Hall would have given the Vikings a unique edge on offense.
“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,” Harris said during CBS Sports HQ on Feb. 20. 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.”
In addition, Harris saw the intangibles that Hall would have brought, too. Hall is solid in pass protection, and as a pass-catcher, he would have taken pressure off of both McCarthy and Jefferson.
“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,” Harris said.
Remaining Options For Vikings
Minnesota still has quality options at running back in free agency, unless another gets tagged before the Tuesday deadline. Running backs to watch for in free agency include Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks, Travis Etienne Jr. of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Rico Dowdle of the Carolina Panthers, or Javonte Williams of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Vikings could also look in the draft, though that would require pairing a rookie with veteran Jordan Mason in the backfield. Mason has been the second back for most of his career between the Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers.
Prospects to watch for include Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love, though that would take a trade up, as he is receiving top-five projections. Washington’s Jonah Coleman and Penn State’s Kaytron Allen are more realistic possibilities.
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