90 to 53 - Cutdown Tracker to Final 53

One place I am starting to differ from most of these takes: I don’t know that Mattison makes the team.

Here are the RBs with the highest snap counts for the Rams RBs in 2021:
Sony Michel: 538 – 49.4%
Darrell Henderson: 507 – 46.56%
Jake Funk: 20 – 1.8% (+128 Special teams snaps)

So Look at the Vikings RBs in order of how safe they are:
Dalvin Cook – Obviously
CJ Ham – The Rams moved their TEs around a lot, inline, out wide and in the backfield. I think the reason the Vikings haven’t gone after more TE depth is because Ham can fill in the function of TE2.
Kene Nwangwu – Has a role as the primary return guy.

So how many RBs do the Vikings Keep? If it’s a standard 4, they just drafted Ty Chandler.

Mattison’s path to making the team is the Vikings keeping 5 backs and one less TE. Another strike against Mattison is he doesn’t play much on special teams (the 3rd and 4th RBs for the Rams both did).  If Mattison makes it he’s probably one of the last guys onto the roster.

Agreed, I wouldn't be surprised to see a rotation at CB, with Dantzler ahead of Booth to start with. It may be wise not to have Peterson play 100% of the snaps every game, as well. Booth will get plenty of playing time even if Dantzler starts ahead of him.


Lowe looks like he'll start off on the PS, and I think Muse will too if they add another TE for depth (they really need to IMO). But since we haven't signed anyone, Muse makes the most sense as the 3rd TE.



The Rams' RB situation last year was a weird one with the injuries they had, but they carried 4 HBs at almost all times. They even carried 5 HBs when they played the Vikings last year! (Akers was taken off the IR, Henderson/Michel/Funk and also Buddy Howell, who only played special teams).

I can definitely see them carrying 4 HBs, I don't think they axe Mattison. To Brandon's point, I think if they are ready to move him, they could get a 6th rounder for him in a trade. But I don't think they go into the season with just Chandler and Nwangwu behind Cook.

As for Ham, I really don't know. If Mundt is the only primary blocking TE they carry onto the roster (and will he even be healthy in September?), it would make sense to keep Ham even if they don't use him as much.

Vikings fans overrate Mattison a bit and the reality is he is just a very average backup RB. I do not think he has any trade value, especially after how poorly he played last season.

He is a RBBC level RB at best.  His ceiling is pretty much proven at this point and that ceiling isn't high enough where any team that had him as their #1 wouldn't be wanting better. 


He is just okay at a position where just okay is common and probably not good enough.

I think you might be quite surprised what he might garner were he on the open market...
Trade value for RBs, you're right, are such a devalued thing these days....and the WR market won't stay this high either.
Teams will see how ridiculously overpaid the Jaguars made Kirk and reel things back for anyone other than proven studs like Jet

I like simplifying the 3-4 Front as NT, DT and DE. Easier to try to project how the depth pieces fit.

As it sits now I have Tomlinson as the NT, Phillips as the DT and J. Lynch as the DE.

Yes. Lynch over Watts. Armon just isn't as good against the run, which matters on early downs. I'm sacrificing some pass rush but how much exactly?

I really like Watts but Lynch was a far better player in College. Absolute sack machine at Baylor as a 3-4 DE. I believe he was miscast as a 3T in a 4-3 his Rookie season. That's probably why he was rumored to be a potential, dreaded 4th Round Rookie cut ala Willie Beavers.

Putting on the weight and having quality rotational minutes at NT really helped him last year. And now he gets to play his natural position and already has the extra size he always needed coming out of college.

There are ceiling concerns given his arm length and lack of explosive first step. Watts has that explosion at the snap. But can he improve against the run? Otomewo is interesting in that he's sort of the antithesis of Lynch, killer measurables with terrible collegiate production. Some of that is clearly how the Gophers used him opposite of Mafe and how little he appears to have been coached up on how to actually rush the passer. He's gotta get bigger, though.

Twyman is also interesting. More of an undersized 3T, though. Shorter arms. Not uber explosive.
Might not fit the NR's plans and is possibly replaced by Otomewo.

What the Vikings are lacking is a true backup for Phillips. Can't fill all the bad depth in one shot but if he goes down who starts? Not sure Lynch is naturally big enough. That UDFA Stevenson looks like an NT only.

Still a lot of holes. Proven Edge or at least someone that profiles to contribute in case of injury. Lacking some beef at DT/NT if Tomlinson or Phillips gets hurt. There's nobody at all on the Roster who profiles as a Hicks replacement as the bigger ILB. Like I said, can't fix it all in one offseason.

Looking forward to the IDL competition. Should be interesting. A late FA signing to this group wouldn't be a bad idea, though.

If we signed him he wouldn't be backing up anybody, he's a substantial upgrade over Phillips.