Minnesota Vikings meet with an intriguing NFL Draft prospect, continuing to show a strong interest in one position

It’s a position they would be better off ignoring.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson (RB10) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings are just like every other team in the National Football League. They are meeting with NFL Draft prospects across the country to get more information so they can make better decisions.

One player the Vikings are scheduled to meet with is Nebraska Cornhuskers running back Emmett Johnson. They have already met with him before, and his visit will not count toward a top-30 visit, as Johnson is from Minnesota.

Minnesota Vikings are putting in the legwork with the running back class

Johnson is an interesting player. He was very productive in a bell cow role for the Cornhuskers, rushing for 1,450 yards and 12 touchdowns. They trusted him to run the ball with heavy workloads, including five games where he carried the ball at least 25 times.

He’s a player that many Vikings fans want in the middle rounds of the NFL Draft, with one of the main reasons being that he’s from Minnesota. There’s very little that Vikings’ fans like more than a hometown hero. The reality with Johnson is that he’s better selected in the middle of day three, as his legs don’t have the right amount of juice.

It’s also not the only player the Vikings have talked to at the running back position. They have also spoken to, in some capacity, from the NFL Scouting Combine to now: Texas State’s Lincoln Pare, Washington’s Jonah Coleman, South Carolina’s Rahsul Faison, and Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne.

It shows that the Vikings are doing their due diligence with the running back class, but they should be looking into it. The position isn’t exactly flush with elite talent this year, and it’s arguably one they should choose to ignore. They aren’t likely to get a player that is worth the capital to select him at. It’s a big reason why I’ve argued they should pass on the position come April.

It’s going to be interesting to see how the Vikings end up prioritizing the position.

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