February 3, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; West running back tie chandler. Compulsory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings RB2 Alexander Mattison has entered the fourth season of his tenure in the last year of his contract in 2022 and his “rival”, Rookie Ty Chandler, is bigger than him.
That’s right. A man who has played three seasons in the NFL has not yet taken a professional snap under the age of one man.
Mattison was born on June 19, 1998, three months before the Vikings began their famous and infamous 1998 campaign. Chandler was born on May 12, 1998, 24 days after Vikings Territory author Jeff Diamond was selected as Randy Moss in the 1998 NFL Draft.
Everyone said that Mattison and Chandler separated at the age of 38 days, as Chandler Mattison’s older brother.
New General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has selected Chandler from North Carolina in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft – the result of business with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
The Lions and Packers got their draft-night bids from:
- Jameson Williams (DET)
- Josh Pascal (DET)
- Christian Watson (GB)
Minnesota used trading capital on these people:
- Louis Cine (S)
- Andrew Booth (CB)
- Ed Ingram (OG)
- Brian Asamoah (LB)
- Esezi Otomewo (EDGE)
- Tie Chandler (Arabic)
The Colts, Browns, and Raiders also looted trade from the Vikings as Adopho-Mensah rode and dealt throughout the event.
At Mattison, he actually faces the final year of his rookie contract in 2022. After the upcoming season, Mattison is expected to hit free agency and make a decent deal. The addition of Chandler to the roster is widely regarded as a post-Mattison plan for Minnesota.
Mattison always gets time to play in the Minnesota offense, although the Vikings show Dalvin Cook as RB1 as much as the team features back. More “bowling balls” than Boise State alumnus Cook – a bowling ball that can deter defenders – accounted for 35% of all Vikings offensive snaps in 2021. Also, Cook misses a few games per season like clockwork, so Mattison is an RB1 for three or four games per year.
It is unclear whether Chandler will make the 53-man list in September. He will probably need head coach Kevin O’Connell to carry four Arabs on the depth chart, including him in stable conditions with Cook, Mattison and Ken Nawangwe.
If he is tapped for duty in 2022, Chandler must be ready. He is much older than the established RB1 and RB2.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to her daily YouTube channel, VikesNow. She Hosts a podcast With Bryant McKinney, which airs every Wednesday Raun Sai And Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking Fandom dates back to 1996. Listed Criminal Pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos’ and The Doors (Band).
