The Minnesota Vikings have an offense full of playmakers. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are the first names to come to mind. T.J. Hockenson is a solid receiving option, though his potency in the Vikings’ offense has declined.
On paper, the Vikings runningback room is solid. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason as a tandem garnered a lot of hype before the 2025 season. The Vikings gave Jones a new 2-year/$20 million deal with $13 million guaranteed in March. They also traded a 2025 fifth and 2026 sixth round pick to the 49ers in exchange for Jordan Mason and a 2025 sixth rounder.
The duo hasn’t quite lived up to the hype. The Vikings have the 26th ranked rushing offense in the NFL by yardage. Conversely, the Vikings’ rushing offense averages 4.4 yards per carry, an NFL 12th-best.
Vikings Linked To Explosive Young Playmaker
GettyNotre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love is being heavily mock-drafted to the Minnesota Vikings in the mid-first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
In a post-trade deadline 2026 NFL mock draft, Pro Football Focus had the Minnesota Vikings going runningback in the first round. That runningback is Notre Dame’s own Jeremiyah Love.
This isn’t the first mock draft that Pro Football Focus has Minnesota selecting the Fighting Irish back. They also had Love being drafted to the Twin Cities in an October 15th mock draft as well.
This was their write-up on the young playmaker at the time of their October 15th mock draft:
“Love’s season started with a quiet showing against Miami, but that was less on him and more about a lack of opportunities. Since then, he’s been on a tear, showcasing once again that he is the most talented back in the country with an 88.0 rushing grade and 69.9 receiving grade. He’s already forced 26 missed tackles with a 3.65 yards after contact per attempt average”.
Pro Football Focus‘ Trevor Sikkema explains the rationale for the Vikings to take a shot on Notre Damn RB Jeremiyah Love.
Jeremiyah Love Could Provide A Spark To Minnesota’s Running Game
GettyJeremiyah Love could be the spark in the rushing offense that the Minnesota Vikings need.
Consider a write-up on Jeremiyah Love’s game from NFLDRAFTBUZZ:
“Love brings a dynamic offensive skill set that translates perfectly to the modern NFL game. His track-verified speed creates instant mismatch problems in both the run and pass game. When watching his film against top competition, you see a back who can take the edge, outrun pursuit angles, and turn routine plays into home runs.
What jumps off the tape is how he combines that sprinter’s speed with natural backfield instincts – vision through traffic and elusiveness that separates him from one-dimensional speedsters.
The development curve from freshman to sophomore year shows a player who’s absorbing coaching and refining his craft. His snap count jumped significantly while his efficiency metrics actually improved, speaking to his football intelligence. When projecting forward, you see a weapon tailor-made for offenses that create space and leverage mismatches.
His pass-catching chops make him a third-down chess piece who can motion out wide and force defensive adjustments pre-snap. The explosion he brings forces defenses to respect perimeter runs, opening interior lanes for complementary backs.”
A write-up from NFLDRAFTBUZZ on Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love
The acquisition of Love by Minnesota could add a whole new dynamic to an offense that tries to give J.J. McCarthy all the help he can get as they continue his development.
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