Alexander Mattison, one of the talented RBs in the NFL, started his professional career in 2019, showing exceptional skills and talents. Last year, Mattison signed a two-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings worth $7 million.
However, after just one season the Vikings will be moving on from the RB, leaving fans shocked and wondering the potential reason behind this move.
Why is RB Alexander Mattison being released by the Vikings?
The Vikings informed Alexander Mattison on Thursday that they will be releasing him soon. As free agency is ahead, the team will make this move immediately. The potential reason why the team has decided to release Mattison after just one season was his underwhelming performance.
Mattison took over Dalvin Cook in the backfield and never gained traction, finishing with 180 carries for 700 yards, averaged only 3.7 yards per rush in his first eight games, and failed to score a touchdown on the ground the entire season.
Considering Alexander could not impress the team with his performance, the decision to release him is understandable. It will also help the team save $3.35 million in cap room, allowing them to sign some other talented players during the free agency period.
Some of the best players the team might consider signing include Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler, and Tony Pollard. Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah also talked about singing new talents to the team stating, “Just because they’re a lower value position right now doesn’t mean they don’t provide a great impact to a team. There’s a lot of exciting options on the market, and we’ll take a look at them like we take a look at every position.”
However, Mattison’s tenure with the Vikings has come to an end which means he will also be looking to join a new team before the upcoming season.
Possible destinations RB Alexander Mattison
Despite underwhelming performance last season, Alexander Mattison is still a highly sought-after running back in the league. Here are some of the potential teams the RB might decide to join after he is released from the Vikings.
The first team could be the Houston Texans considering the team’s leading rusher, Devin Singletary, is set to hit free agency. The team has another option, Dameon Pierce but he also struggled last season. Adding Mattison can help the team get a leading running back and improve their performance.
The other option for Alexander Mattison is the Dallas Cowboys. Last year, the Cowboys released Ezekiel Elliott and signed Tony Pollard who will hit free agency soon. So, the team will need a talented RB, the position Mattison fits into perfectly.
The Titans are another potential landing spot for the Vikings RB. The team had the talented RB Derrick Henry who will hit free agency and sign with a new team soon. While the team has Tyjae Spears and Hassan Haskins, adding another talented RB would only benefit their performance.
So far, these three teams appear to show the potential of signing Alexander Mattison. However, as he hit free agency there might be more teams interested in the RB and offer him lucrative deals to sign him.
