The Top 7 Landing Spots for Alexander Mattison
The Minnesota Vikings kicked off the 2024 free-agent cycle this week and reportedly released Alexander Mattison after five years with the club.
The Top 7 Landing Spots for Alexander Mattison
Minnesota will now presumably lean on third-year tailback Ty Chandler for RB1 duties while likely adding another runner from free agency or the 2024 NFL Draft.
Mattison can sign anywhere in the league, so consider these teams his top seven landing spots for 2024. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most likely landing spot).
7. Denver Broncos
2023 Rushing DVOA: 13th
RBs on Roster before Free Agency:
Javonte Williams
Samaje Perine
Jaleel McLaughlin
Tyler Badie
There’s the George Paton angle here, the current Broncos GM, who spent time with the Vikings. He was in the room when Alexander Mattison was drafted. For depth, this one could work.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars
2023 Rushing DVOA: 26th
RBs on Roster before Free Agency:
Travis Etienne
Tank Bigsby
Jacksonville will need an RB3 from somewhere, and Mattison is actually an RB2. The Jaguars’ run game coordinator, Phil Rauscher, has ties to Mattison from his Vikings days.
5. Los Angeles Rams
2023 Rushing DVOA: 6th
RBs on Roster before Free Agency:
Kyren Williams
Ronnie Rivers
Zach Evans
With the Kevin O’Connell + Sean McVay connection, Los Angeles needs depth behind Williams, who busted out in 2023. Mattison would fit wonderfully on the Rams’ roster as RB2.
4. Houston Texans
2023 Rushing DVOA: 30th
RBs on Roster before Free Agency:
Dameon Pierce
J.J. Taylor
Gerrid Doaks
This team bedazzled the NFL masses even while missing a run game. Houston’s ground attack flat-out stunk in 2023, but nobody cared because C.J. Stroud was so game-ready.
Texans quarterbacks coach Jerrod Johnson worked on the Vikings staff for a minute, a small tidbit to remember. This one is really about Houston’s need for semi-reliable runners in 2024.
3. Seattle Seahawks
2023 Rushing DVOA: 18th
RBs on Roster before Free Agency:
Kenneth Walker
Zach Charbonnet
Kenny McIntosh
Bryant Koback
Seattle’s running backs coach is Kennedy Polamalu, and he coached Mattison in Minnesota for three seasons.
2. Cleveland Browns
2023 Rushing DVOA: 23rd
RBs on Roster before Free Agency:
Nick Chubb
Jerome Ford
Pierre Strong
John Kelly Jr.
Kevin Stefanski runs the show in Cleveland and was coworkers with Mattison for a season in Minnesota. The Browns will need depth behind Chubb as he recovers from a brutal injury, so watch for Mattison to Cleveland.
1. New Orleans Saints
2023 Rushing DVOA: 11th
RBs on Roster before Free Agency:
Alvin Kamara
Jamaal Williams
Kendre Miller
Jordan Mims
James Robinson
All sorts of former Vikings coaches from the Mattison era work in New Orleans: Klint Kubiak, Rick Dennison, and Andrew Janocko. If the Saints release Jamaal Williams, monitor Mattison to New Orleans in an RB2 or RB3 role.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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