While the spotlight shines on pick No. 18, the Minnesota Vikings still have eight other selections in April’s draft, and they’ll need to make the most of all of them. As the free-agency signings crawl along at a snail’s pace, the Vikings will inevitably need to find some starters in the draft. Emmett Johnson is one late-round pick who could fit the bill.
Minnesota has more holes than Augusta National on this roster. There are needs at center, running back, wide receiver, defensive tackle, cornerback, and safety — to name a few — and the Vikings will need to make up for lost time this year. 2022 was the last time Minnesota had at least nine draft selections, and none of those picks remain on the roster just a few seasons later. That’s not to say all nine in 2026 need to be future All-Pros, but the Vikings will need to find some late-round gems.
There is one particular late-round pick who could be one of those elusive diamonds, and he may even work into a starting role as a rookie for the Vikings. Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson has been linked to the Vikings in recent weeks as a Twin Cities native who plays at a position of need. But this is more than just a feel-good homecoming story for the Vikings, who are in desperate need of some juice in the backfield.
Johnson stuffed the stat sheet this past season at Nebraska, finishing fourth in the FBS in rushing yards (1,451) and third in receiving yards (370) among running backs. He’s a do-it-all back with home-run capability, something Minnesota’s current running back room lacks. And while nearly 2,000 yards from scrimmage is hard to keep a secret, the Vikings may have a decent chance at landing Johnson.
The Nebraska running back’s draft stock tanked a bit after an uninspiring combine showing, where he ran the slowest 40-yard dash among all backs. But one man’s dash is another man’s treasure, and Minnesota could get the falling star at a reasonable pick.
Johnson’s primary role in the NFL may be as a receiving back; he’ll need to greatly improve his pass protection to garner a bigger role. But Johnson’s 251 carries this past season at 5.8 yards per clip are strong signs he can work up to an every-down back. Interestingly enough, many have compared him to Kenneth Gainwell, a free agent who many Vikings fans were eager to bring aboard before he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As for Johnson, he sees himself as a mix of three names you may recognize.
“Ameer Abdullah is someone I play similar to, as well as a little of Adrian Peterson,” Johnson said after committing to Nebraska. “Also, Alvin Kamara, how he’s changing the game, being able to run routes out of the backfield. That’s something I can do really well. I would say I have a little of each of those running backs in my game.”
Johnson has proven to be a workhorse, something the Vikings became accustomed to with Adrian Peterson and Dalvin Cook. The good thing is he won’t have to be, at least initially. Minnesota will still return Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason this season, and both figure to be involved regardless of who else gets added to the backfield.
As a fourth-round pick, Johnson wouldn’t face much pressure to produce immediately. On the other hand, the Vikings have very little investment in Jones and Mason in 2026, and there will be opportunities to steal away carries from the duo early in the season.
Minnesota will still almost surely employ a three-headed monster at running back this year. However, at some point, one of the backs might start to separate themselves. Who’s to say that player couldn’t be Johnson, should the Vikings take him?
He’s a mix of Minnesota’s other two backs and plays faster than his combine testing would indicate. He’s elusive and can bring down the hammer when needed, ranking sixth in forced missed tackles last year with 68.
The Vikings will be taking a running back this year with one of those nine picks, but the question will be when. If they decide to hold off a bit for one reason or another, Johnson could present a tantalizing opportunity in the middle rounds.
With this year’s draft setting up as Jeremiyah Love and then everybody else, running back will be an interesting position to watch. The Vikings won’t need to find a plug-and-play starter this season. Still, with the aging Jones and a one-trick pony in Mason, that need will grow quickly in 2027. Johnson could prove to be one of the better late-round finds in Minnesota’s elusive quest to draft players that stick around long enough to sign a second contract.
