Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings: 3 Running Backs That Would Fit in 2017 NFL Draft

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 7:07 p.m. ET

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Which running backs in the 2017 NFL Draft would make sense for the Minnesota Vikings to select to help replace Adrian Peterson?

It appears the Minnesota Vikings will be moving on from Adrian Peterson, so who will now replace the future Hall of Fame running back in Minnesota? If Minnesota wants to resolve that issue immediately, the 2017 NFL Draft would be the opportune place to start the search.

Stocked full of talent, this may be the deepest running back class that we've seen in quite a while. Don't get me wrong, last year was pretty solid class as well led by Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott with guys like Jordan Howard, Derrick Henry, Devontae Booker, and Paul Perkins all having their moments as well. But this class has the makings to be a very special one.

This year marks the year the Vikings take a different approach with their offense. A heavy running game plan centered around Adrian Peterson, will now be planned more or less around Sam Bradford's abilities to distribute the ball. Latavius Murray will still provide the power punch that Minnesota will need to establish a ground game, but this will not be the same offense that we've seen from Minnesota since 2007.

Vikings general manager Rick Spielman may have the opportunity to pick or choose when he'll decide to lock down a running back in the draft with how deep the position is, there are multiple positions needing to be addressed on the offensive side of the ball so Spielman will have to be sure find value with no first round picks.

Can you guess which round Minnesota will take a shot at a running back? The second or third round is more than likely, just don't be surprised if Spielman finds his way back into the tail end of the first round like he's done in the past.

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3. Alvin Kamara, Tennessee

Trying to get to know the player that is Alvin Kamara is a curious case to say the least. Scouts and teams are counting on the untapped potential of a player who never was really given the opportunity to shine at Tennessee. Kamara's workload was limited while he shared carries with Jalen Hurd. He is undersized at 5-10, and also displayed some character issues early on in his collegiate career.

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The former Volunteer had a similar amount of carries in 2015 and 2016 along with catches out of the backfield, but perhaps there was a concern among his peers that he couldn't handle a full workload. Nonetheless, when you throw on this guy's game tape, he's absolute dynamite with the ball in his hands.

Experts are projecting Alvin Kamara as a second-round pick that will make an immediate impact with his playmaking ability in the running and passing game.

Minnesota will need someone to step up and create splash plays with short dump offs and screens since Cordarrelle Patterson will not be returning. Kamara has the balance and ability to create blocks to maximize minimal plays.

He may not be a three-down back straight out the gate, but given a year under Latavius Murray and Jerick McKinnon, a player of Alvin Kamara's potential could thrive. He is a prime example of a boom or bust pick in this draft, if Minnesota pulls the trigger on him hopefully Kamara can form a three-headed monster.

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2. Marlon Mack, South Florida

Marlon Mack may find himself waiting to be picked on Day 2 or 3, but I feel as if he's the running back that best fits the Minnesota Vikings, here's why.

Minnesota lacks a first-round selection, so they will not be in the running for either Leonard Fournette or Dalvin Cook unless they give a king's ransom to move back up into the top 15 of the 2017 draft. Those backs, deservedly so, are top-10 players and would be difference makers for any team who selects them.

Secondly, the Vikings have a single second-round pick, a pick they may use on the best player available. Minnesota has so many holes on offense, and depth issues with a few defensive positions they may be better off taking the value pick while hoping it fills a need.

Then we come to the third round, which is where Mack may or may not be sitting. With two picks in the third, the purple and gold need to start pouncing on offensive players. As Minnesota's offense evolves, they need a dual-threat running back—a running back that can hit the hole downhill from the gun, break tackles, and hit gaps with home-run speed.

Marlon Mack provides all those aspects at a value position between the third and fifth rounds if Minnesota decides to wait. Mack can punch it up the gut if need be, while being nimble enough to bounce runs to the edges and make defenders miss.

South Florida would line up Mack all over the field, bring him in motion, run jet sweeps, while also throwing him swing screens. His receiving skills are underrated, just as his willingness to run in between the tackles is at times also. If Spielman and the Vikings are looking for a player of value that can contribute immediately in the 2017-18 season, Marlon Mack is that guy.

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1. Joe Mixon, Oklahoma

Drafting a back with the talent Joe Mixon with the Vikings first pick in the second round would be an extreme value according to multiple draft experts. Mixon has the potential to be the best running back of the draft. He shined on the field, despite his incidents off of it, leaving NFL teams and their general managers with a starched taste in their mouths.

When looking for any NFL comparisons, Le'Veon Bell and Lesean McCoy come to mind in terms of natural skill and ability to catch the ball. Mixon has those traits, displaying them at Oklahoma with 37 catches in 12 games last season. I feel as if the Bell comparisons is more apt with Mixon's ability to bang in between the tackles while also remaining extremely elusive in the open field.

He uses his patience in zone concepts very well, which in some cases gets him swallowed up at the line of scrimmage. The Oklahoma product is as good as a dual-threat as you'll get in this draft outside of Dalvin Cook. Now it just comes down to the question of whether or not the Vikings still have him on their board.

After seeing Spielman, head coach Mike Zimmer, and new running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu all at the Oklahoma pro day, it's almost safe to say that Joe Mixon is still on the list, especially after seeing social media posts of Zimmer leaving the facility side by side with Mixon. The kid can flat-out ball on the field, it's the other personal traits the Minnesota Vikings have to explore to make sure he's a right fit for this football team.