Dillon Bell averaged 7.3 yards per carry in college, possesses 4.5 speed, and boasts an ideal 6’1”, 210 lbs. frame for running back. He’s athletic, an outstanding finisher, and a natural at the position. He’s admitted as much.
“I was born to be a running back.”
He offers a solution to the Minnesota Vikings’ concerns with the 2026 backfield, but there’s a small catch. Meet Dillon Bell: Minnesota’s undrafted free agent wide receiver.
The Vikings added Bell as a UDFA out of Georgia, and the early returns have been promising. He’s already impressed at OTA’s and minicamp, and has the inside track to make the 53-man roster with his play.
“It can be difficult to gauge receiver skill sets in spring practices, when NFL rules prohibit physical coverage techniques,” wrote ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. “But it was eye-opening to see Bell — an undrafted rookie from Georgia — working extensively with the second team during drills.”
While the Vikings need someone to step up as WR4, they also need someone who can inject some life into their lackluster rushing attack.
After bringing back Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason, the Vikings hope the play and health of both players yield better results than in 2025. Jones missed five games due to injury, and neither back had a rush over 31 yards across 291 carries. Fast forward to now, and it’s hard to see how the backfield will be any better than the below-average one from last season.
Jones will turn 32 this season, and Mason lacks the explosive running and pass-blocking skills that could make him an every-down back. The Vikings added Demond Claiborne in the sixth round, a small but quick runner who could potentially break off a big run every now and again. Still, he has to make the roster first.
Ultimately, the room won’t scare too many opposing defenses despite Jones’ historical play and Mason’s impressive metrics. So where could Bell fit into all of this?
Well, despite playing mostly receiver in college, Bell had 51 carries for 373 yards and five touchdowns for the Bulldogs. He’s called himself a positionless player, which would have Brian Flores drooling if he played on the other side of the ball. But whether the Vikings use him in a role similar to Deebo Samuel, a comparison he relishes, is another question.
“He’s a positionless player,” said his college coach Kirby Smart. “He can play tight end. He can play Wildcat quarterback. He can play tailback. He’s certainly a good receiver. He’s a great returner. That’s what people are moving to in the NFL, guys that can go out there and create matchups. He does that. He can be in the backfield and create some problems for the defense.”
Samuel, the most recent example of a player who handled both duties, has provided a potential blueprint for how the Vikings could utilize Bell. Kevin O’Connell is one of the many branches of the Shanahan tree, and could easily find a home for Bell at receiver and running back if needed. Well, it’s needed.
The Minnesota backfield is arguably the weakest part of the offense this year, and Bell could provide the juice it desperately needs. Bell was a red-zone machine at Georgia, catching two touchdowns and adding two more scores on the ground for the Bulldogs last year. It’s something the Vikings could use more of after punching in a touchdown just 57% of the time in 2025 from inside the 20.
At best, Dillon Bell is a dynamic player who could handle the WR4 and RB3 duties for the Vikings. At worst, however, he’s a jack of all trades and master of none and struggles to find a home in Minnesota, much like his versatile predecessors in Percy Harvin or Cordarrelle Patterson.
There’s certainly a reason Bell went undrafted despite his versatility and athleticism. As a senior, he only had 27 catches for 268 yards, a significant decline from his impressive junior season. His route running lacks polish, and he primarily offers only underneath play with the possibility for some yards after the catch. But despite his shortcomings, he fills a void on the Minnesota offense – as long as O’Connell is open to it.
The Vikings are putting a lot of faith in a 32-year-old Jones producing, and that Mason can be something more than a change-of-pace power back. If Jones misses time, or Mason offers little to no explosiveness, Minnesota will need to turn elsewhere for some energy in the backfield.
Obviously, Minnesota won’t turn to a UDFA receiver to handle the bulk of the work at running back. Still, it seems like the Vikings will miss an opportunity to add running back depth if they ignore Bell’s versatility.
