Sports
Vikings Eye Under-the-Radar RB Prospect After Draft Meeting
With the draft process intensifying, the Vikings have already begun evaluating running back prospects, including a small-school breakout name who recently met with the team.
A player who could be on the team’s radar is running back Chris Mosley. The North Carolina Central alumnus reportedly met with the Vikings.
Draft reporter Justin Melo of SI.com revealed on social media that the Vikings’ brass chatted with Mosley at the HBCU Legacy Bowl that took place this past weekend. The Vikes were not alone, as he listed eight other franchises.
After three quiet campaigns at North Carolina Central, the runner broke out during the 2025 season. Mosley rushed 188 times for 1,020 yards and 8 touchdowns, resulting in an average of 5.4 yards. He also showed he can be a reliable pass-catcher, recording 30 receptions for 324 yards and 2 more scores.
Gerald J. Huggins II wrote this month about the draft hopeful on SI.com. “Mosley projects as an NFL camp/2nd-tier league starter who will be most impactful in a power-heavy running scheme that allows him to utilize his vision, patience, and toughness. His toughness as a runner and ability to consistently gain positive yardage give him upside to be an RB3 or 4 at the NFL level. He will need to refine his receiving ability and pass protection to be a more serviceable option.”
It would be far-fetched to expect a back from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, especially one that isn’t putting up prime Adrian Peterson numbers, to arrive in the NFL as an elite weapon. Still, there might be some hidden upside.
If the Vikings strike out on the top halfbacks in the Draft, adding one later in the three-day event or even as an undrafted rookie can’t be ruled out.
Aaron Jones, Minnesota’s RB1 in the last two seasons, is a potential cap casualty, given his expensive salary cap hit and the limited production due to his injury struggles and age-related declining explosiveness. He’s just coming off a season with the lowest yards-per-attempt in his career, with 4.2 and he missed five games with injuries. Jones still produced 548 rushing yards and found paydirt twice.
Of course, there’s also Jordan Mason, who shared the workload with the veteran. The trade acquisition from last offseason appeared in 16 games and delivered a solid yardage total of 758 with an average of 4.8 yards per carry. Crossing the goalline six times isn’t too shabby either.
Besides the top duo, the Vikings enter the offseason with pending free agents Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott. Chandler has not consistently earned a role on offense in his four seasons in the State of 10,000 Lakes. A departure seems likely. Scott showed enough promise to earn a spot on the offseason roster.
If Jones isn’t retained for a third season in purple, Mason would climb to the top spot until the franchise finds someone else in the Draft or free agency. Mosley is unlikely to be that guy; he’s more of an upside swing later in the Draft.
Pre-draft meetings like this are not always an indication of strong draft interest, but they do signal that a prospect is at least on the team’s evaluation radar. For smaller-school players like Mosley, events such as the HBCU Legacy Bowl and Combine interviews are often crucial.
The Vikings, in particular, have shown a willingness in recent years to explore under-the-radar prospects who can compete for depth roles and special teams snaps before potentially carving out a larger role on offense. Levi Drake Rodriguez, out of Texas A&M Commerce, comes to mind. He was drafted in the 7th round in 2024 and played a significant role on the defensive line in his sophomore season.
While a meeting does not guarantee draft interest, it does confirm that Mosley is firmly on Minnesota’s scouting radar. For a team potentially reshaping its backfield depth this offseason, identifying late-round or undrafted runners with upside could quietly become an important part of the Vikings’ draft strategy.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
