The 2025 third-round pick brings much needed depth to Minnesota's depleted backfield.
The Minnesota Vikings are adding another option to their running back room, signing former New Orleans Saints running back Devin Neal after multiple injuries at the position.
The 23-year-old was originally selected by the Saints in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Kansas. He spent his rookie season in New Orleans before returning to the Saints this offseason.
Now, he gets another opportunity with the Vikings as Minnesota looks to add depth to its backfield.
The Vikings entered the season with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason expected to handle much of the workload. However, Mason was placed on injured reserve after the season opener and Jones has been nursing a knee injury, leaving Minnesota with fewer options in the backfield.
That has created a need for additional depth, and Neal brings some juice to the position.
Neal appeared in 10 games for the Saints as a rookie, making three starts. He finished the season with 206 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 57 carries while adding 17 receptions for 104 yards.
His role became more significant late in the season while Alvin Kamara dealt with an ankle injury. Neal showed some of the traits that made him an intriguing draft prospect, particularly his ability to create yards after contact and make defenders miss.
Neal forced 10 missed tackles during his rookie season and produced 136 rushing yards after initial contact.
That ability could give Minnesota another style of runner to work into the rotation.
For the Vikings, the immediate question will be how quickly Neal can get up to speed with the offense. He was released by New Orleans after reaching an injury settlement in September, but the Vikings have now given him another opportunity to establish himself in the NFL.
Minnesota does not necessarily need Neal to become a featured back. With Jones still capable of carrying a significant workload, Neal could instead compete for a complementary role while providing another option if injuries force the Vikings to adjust their plans.
The move also gives Minnesota a young running back with some experience rather than relying exclusively on inexperienced depth.
Neal has already shown that he can contribute at the NFL level, even if his rookie season was limited. Now, he gets a fresh start with a Vikings team that has a clear need for another running back.
For Minnesota, the signing is ultimately about adding another option. For Neal, this is another opportunity to turn the flashes he showed in New Orleans into a more consistent role in his second NFL season.
