There’s a New Vikings Hometown Hero in the Draft

Running back could quietly become a sneaky need for the Minnesota Vikings, especially if the team makes a cap-related decision on veteran back Aaron Jones this offseason.

Both the Draft and free agency feature some intriguing names, but one of the more fascinating fits could be a hometown prospect to the squad, now that C.J. Ham and Adam Thielen have announced their retirement.

Consider someone with the Twin Cities in his veins, Mr. Emmett Johnson, a runner from Nebraska. Regarded as one of the better backs in the class, Johnson could elevate the running back group for his hometown team.

While chatting with NBC Sports at the Scouting Combine, Johnson commented on the chance of playing for the Vikings, “Hey, man, it would mean a lot. I grew up in the inner city. I lived about 10-15 minutes from U.S. Bank Stadium. I had a great formal meeting with them and (Kevin) O’Connell. I would love to go back home.”

Johnson, 22, attended Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, MN, where he dominated as a senior, rushing for nearly 2,500 yards and 42 touchdowns en route to earning Minnesota Mr. Football honors. The Golden Gophers didn’t offer him a scholarship, so he headed to Nebraska.

At Nebraska, Johnson had a redshirt year, followed by two solid campaigns in a timeshare with a total of 1,009 yards and three scores on the ground. His breakout season came in 2025, when he accumulated 1,451 rushing yards and added another 370 as a pass-catcher. Johnson scored 15 touchdowns from scrimmage in his final collegiate season.

With numbers like that, it’s no wonder he has drawn buzz ahead of the Draft. ESPN’s Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. considers him the 3rd-best back in the class, only trailing Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price.

Asked about guys whose skillset he resembles, he responded, “I’ll say a lot of different guys. Barry Sanders is one of them. I’ll go LaDainian Tomlinson, a little bit of (Christian) McCaffrey. In today’s day and age, my coach also coached him, so I feel like the receiving ability from him. And then a little bit of Walter (Payton). Y’all might not know, but if you go watch the tape.”

And then there’s a specific Vikings great he added to that list.

“I grew up a Vikings fan. Just how downhill [Adrian Peterson] was. I feel like if you watch my tape, I finish a lot of my runs moving forward. I feel like the violent part came from AP.”

If the Vikings ultimately acquire him on Day 2 of the Draft and Johnson can come close to any of the names he mentioned, well, the Vikings would be happy about that decision.

PFF’s Trevor Sikkema wrote about the prospect, “His game is built on outstanding vision and elusiveness, highlighted by some of the quickest feet in this class. That allows him to navigate traffic effectively in man- and gap-scheme concepts, where he has posted an elite rushing grade over the past two seasons. Johnson is a natural receiver out of the backfield, and while he shows the mentality for strong pass protection, he could be overpowered at the next level due to his lack of bulk. He also runs with a determined style, consistently displaying high effort and competitive toughness.”

If Jones is, indeed, on the chopping block, the Vikings only have Jordan Mason under contract for the upcoming season. Mason is a solid back, but he needs a sidekick. That’s where Johnson could be the difference-maker. Depth runners Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott are both free agents. The latter is a decent bet for a contract extension.

On the consensus board of NFL Mock Draft Database, Johnson ranks 4th among RBs in the Draft and 77th overall, just a couple of spots under Washington’s Jonah Coleman.

Our own Josh Frey has him as the 3rd RB in the class, writing, “Johnson thrives in zone running schemes, and he was one of the most explosive playmakers out of the backfield in all of college football this season. His 36 carries of 10+ yards tied for sixth in the FBS. He also led all running backs in the FBS with 46 receptions. At 5’11” and 200 pounds, Johnson has a sturdy frame to along with outstanding breakaway speed and ability to change directions on a dime.”

Whether the Vikings ultimately prioritize running back in the middle rounds remains to be seen, but Johnson’s local ties, versatility, and rising draft stock make him an especially compelling fit. For a franchise looking to get younger, cheaper, and more dynamic in the backfield, a hometown prospect with three-down upside could check multiple boxes at once.

If the board falls the right way on Day 2 or early Day 3, the idea of bringing a Twin Cities native back home might be too appealing for Minnesota to ignore.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt