Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
With Kevin O’Connell now in charge, do not be shocked if these Minnesota Vikings get cut.
It is a new era of Minnesota Vikings football with Kevin O’Connell coming aboard as head coach and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as general manager.
After conducting their first NFL free agency and NFL Draft together, it is now O’Connell’s time to shine on the field. The former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator takes over the helm of the Vikings. A taller Sean McVay brings his shiny, new Super Bowl ring to the Twin Cities, a metroplex that has never seen its proud football franchise ever hoist the Lombardi Trophy. He has work to do.
With an offensive-minded head coach calling the shots, these players may not make the team.
Minnesota Vikings: 3 players who may not be on roster come September 1
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Alexander Mattison
RB Minnesota Vikings
Alexander Mattison may be squeezed out by younger players his a contract year
Although the Vikings used a third-round pick on Alexander Mattison out of Boise State in the 2019 NFL Draft, he could be expendable ahead of his contract year with the Vikings. While he has done a solid job backing up Dalvin Cook the last three years, Mattison has never gone for over 500 yards in a season on the ground for the Vikings. Minnesota was very ground-centric under Mike Zimmer.
Not to say O’Connell will go full-blown McVay and try to 11 personnel the NFC to death en route to the Super Bowl, but the former NFL quarterback will probably lean on Kirk Cousins and his wide receivers in the passing game as opposed to pounding the rock relentlessly. Factor in the Vikings drafting Kene Nwangwu last year and Ty Chandler this past spring, and Mattison could be gone.
Ultimately, guys that are in the final year of their deals on franchises who have recently made coaching changes are especially vulnerable. If Mattison were to be released, he would find work almost immediately, which brings into question if the Vikings will actually have the stones to cut ties with him now. However, it could become much clearer after seeing how things shake out in training camp.
If Nwangwu or Chandler are the real deal, this makes it an easier pill to swallow for Minnesota.