Running the ball hasn’t exactly been a strength of the Minnesota Vikings during the Kevin O’Connell era, but that could potentially change this offseason, especially if they are somehow able to land former Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
On Tuesday, that became closer to turning into a reality after The Draft Network’s Ryan Fowler revealed that the Vikings are one of the multiple teams in the league that have set up a formal meeting with Jeanty at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine.
Now, it’s just a meeting, and teams meet with a ton of prospects at the Scouting Combine every year. But Minnesota likely wouldn’t be wasting its time meeting with Jeanty this week if they didn’t think they had a chance to land him in the draft in April.
Could the Minnesota Vikings end up with former Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Luckily, this year’s class of running back prospects is one of the deepest in recent memory. So even if the Vikings don’t end up drafting Jeanty, the consolation prizes have the potential to be just as good, if not better.
That being said, Minnesota landing the former Boise State All-American running back would add another dimension to an offense that already features Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson.
Unfortunately, if the Vikings want to be the team that drafts Jeanty this year, they will likely have to move up in the first round to get him.
Currently, Minnesota is sitting with the No. 24 pick in the opening round, and the latest consensus mock draft according to MockDraftDatabase.com has Jeanty coming off the board with the 12th overall selection.
With only four picks in this year’s NFL Draft, it might be difficult for the Vikings to find a way to trade up in the first round and land Jeanty. But if Minnesota believes he’s the type of running back who could take the team to the next level, then they should do whatever they can to land him.
In 14 games with Boise State last season, Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns, so it’s not hard to understand why he is viewed by many as the top running back in this year’s class of draft prospects. He would truly give the Vikings the potential to finish the 2025 campaign with one of the five best offenses in the entire NFL.
