Vikings Linked to Pro Bowl RB With Projected $20 Million Value.

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of things to answer this offseason, but one thing is clear from the team’s 7-10 2023 season: Alexander Mattison is not the team’s backup running back.

On Thursday, January 25, Judd Zulgad of USA Today’s Vikings Wire made the same claim after looking at a list of four free agents the Vikings might try to sign in March. Tony Pollard, a running back for the Dallas Cowboys, was on the list.

Ty Chandler could become the starting running back for the Vikings next season in an attempt to address their running back problems, but this is not a certainty and the team needs depth at this position.

Alexander Mattison, who signed a two-year, $7 million extension last offseason, figures to be back but he failed to take control of the top role.

Pollard, 26, could be an interesting fit sharing time in the backfield. He saw his per carry average dip from 5.2 to 4.0 yards this season, but he had six touchdowns and caught 55 passes for 311 yards (5.7 average). Mattison and Chandler caught 51 passes combined. The other thing that separates Pollard from the Vikings’ duo is that he’s very good in pass protection and, thus, can be trusted on third down.

Tony Pollard’s Production Dipped in 2023, but Cowboys RB Still Gained More Than 1,000 Rushing Yards

Pollard has completed two 1,000-yard run seasons and one Pro Bowl (2022), having accomplished the latter in each of his previous two seasons.

Pollard was successful, but Zulgad noted that once Ezekiel Elliott left for the New England Patriots during the previous offseason, Pollard’s production per carry decreased. That trend, though, might work to the Vikings’ advantage.

With Ezekiel Elliott out of the picture for Dallas, Pollard had to take on a considerably heavier burden while playing this season under the franchise tag. Pollard failed to live up to expectations when carrying the ball in Dallas, just as Mattison had failed to do so in Minnesota after Cook was fired, according to Zulgad. “That drop in production numbers to lower his value and, at the right price, giving him a chance to bid on a Vikings job could improve everyone’s situation.”

Pollard played the 2023 season on a one-year, $10.1 million deal due to the team’s utilization of the franchise tag to keep him out of free agency. Spotrac projects Pollard’s market value just shy of $20 million over a new three-year contract.

Vikings Running Back Ty Chandler Made Leap at Season’s End

Chandler became Minnesota’s primary rusher late in the year and finished relatively strong.

The second-year RB tallied 461 rushing yards on 102 carries (4.5 yards per carry) and 3 TDs as well as 21 receptions for 159 yards. He appeared in all 17 of the team’s regular-season games in 2023, with his highlight performance coming Week 15 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

In that game, Chandler ran the ball 23 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. In addition, he grabbed three receptions for 25 yards.

Based on his performance versus Cincinnati, it appears like Chandler is prepared for a more significant role on a weekly basis. But unless he shows it over a much bigger sample size, the idea that he is a three-down starter in the NFL is still highly implausible. As such, Minnesota is a solid bet to be in the market for a running back of some form this free-agency period, be that guy Pollard or someone else.

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