As the Minnesota Vikings continue to search for ways to improve the physicality of their offensive backfield before the 2025 season, one prospect who used to be teammates with J.J. McCarthy at Michigan appears to be someone the team is interested in adding during this year's NFL Draft.
According to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport on Monday, the Vikings hosted former Michigan running back Kalel Mullings for a Top 30 visit.
Mullings spent his entire five-year college career with the Wolverines, and last season, he rushed for 948 yards and 12 touchdowns on 185 attempts (5.1 per carry). He and McCarthy were teammates at Michigan during the 2021, 2022, and 2023 campaigns.
Michigan's Kalel Mullings would help the Minnesota Vikings with their effort to build a more physical rushing attack
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, Mullings has the perfect frame to get physical and battle for tough yards. With the Wolverines last season, he ranked 18th in the nation in yards after contact and 21st in missed tackles forced, according to data from PFF.
Mullings also displayed excellent ball security in 2024 at Michigan, as he didn't fumble at all during any of his 191 total touches.
Despite spending five seasons with the Wolverines, he doesn't have as much experience at running back as some of the other guys from his position group in this year's draft pool. That's because Mullings spent his first three years at Michigan as a linebacker.
PFF currently has him ranked as their 16th-best running back in the 2025 draft pool, and the 161st-best prospect overall.
With one selection in both the fifth and sixth rounds this year, Mullings could be someone the Vikings consider using one of those picks on in the NFL Draft later this month. At the very least, he could also be someone Minnesota is able to sign as an undrafted free agent if he ends up not getting selected by any team this year.
The Vikings have been placing an emphasis on getting better in the red zone and short-yardage situations during the last few weeks, and adding a running back like Mullings would be something that just furthers that effort.
