Inside The Vikings

Report: Vikings Hosting Free Agent RB Kareem Hunt For Visit

Hunt, if signed, would give the Vikings another proven veteran option in their backfield.
Will Ragatz|
Report: Vikings Hosting Free Agent RB Kareem Hunt For Visit
Report: Vikings Hosting Free Agent RB Kareem Hunt For Visit

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Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are hosting free agent running back Kareem Hunt for a visit on Friday, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

This is another interesting one. In the post-Dalvin Cook era, the Vikings have Alexander Mattison as their starting RB and second-year back Ty Chandler as the likely backup after Chandler impressed in the preseason opener Thursday night. Hunt, though, is a proven veteran who would add depth and experience to Minnesota's backfield.

A third-round pick out of Toledo in 2017, Hunt had a huge rookie season for the Chiefs with 1,782 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl and finished second in offensive rookie of the year voting. The following year, Hunt had another 1,202 yards and 14 touchdowns.

In 2018, Hunt was released by the Chiefs after a video surfaced of him assaulting a woman. The incident did not result in a criminal case and Hunt was never charged. He signed with the Browns in 2019 and was suspended by the NFL for the first eight games of that season for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Hunt has shared a backfield with star Nick Chubb since making his Browns debut. His biggest season with Cleveland came in 2020, when he recorded 1,145 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had 678 yards and four touchdowns on 158 touches last year.

Hunt, 28, has always had good numbers in terms of forcing missed tackles and gaining yards after contact. He's also a quality receiver out of the backfield. For his career, he's averaged 4.5 yards per carry and 8.6 yards per catch. Before last season, Hunt had never earned a PFF grade below 74.

In addition to Mattison and Chandler, the Vikings have Kene Nwangwu, DeWayne McBride, and Abram Smith on their roster at running back.

The Vikings have now hosted veterans Hunt, Dalton Risner, and Ronald Darby for visits. They haven't signed Risner or Darby and won't necessarily sign Hunt, but they're clearly exploring the possibility of adding an impact veteran or two to their roster before the season begins.

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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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