According to the Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson, the Minnesota Vikings have received calls from “at least” 12 teams about running back Alexander Mattison.
Buy Vikings TicketsSource: At least 12 teams have called to express interest in trading for #Vikings backup RB Alexander Mattison, who's entering final year of his contract & isn't going to sign an extension anytime soon. But Vikings would want good value if they move him: https://t.co/H559So2ToP
— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) August 29, 2022
This can be taken multiple ways. Teams have been known to put the word out to reporters to boost their position in trade negotiations. On the other hand, it is completely plausible for this to be the case if the Vikings are serious about moving on from the former third-round pick.
What could Alexander Mattison get in a trade? Climbing The Pocket’s Matt Anderson compiled some recent running back trades to get a sense for what the market might be for Mattison.
Recent RBs traded fetched day 3 picks. Maybe there’s hope to attach a later pick to Mattison in hopes of receiving a better draft one back. But I’d guess if moved it’ll be for Day 3
Mark Ingram – 7th
Sony Michel- 4th,6th
DeAndre Washington + 7th – 6th
Lynn Bowden + 6th – 4th— Matt Anderson (@MattAnderson_8) August 29, 2022
Mattison has been a solid player with a day-two pedigree. Over his three seasons, Mattison has started six games and accrued 1,387 yards with a 4.2-yard average and six touchdowns. Completely fine numbers for a rotational fringe starter but he’s never been more than that.
What would he net the Vikings in a trade? Somewhere between the Michel and Bowden trades make the most sense. Bowden was traded just four months after the Raiders made him a third-round pick and Michel was a former first-round pick, which gives him a little more pedigree than Mattison.
If the Vikings end up keeping Mattison and letting his contract run out, he might net a compensatory pick in the sixth or seventh-round. A fifth is not out of the question, but a contract would have to be worth upwards of $7 million.
I don't see this being plausible
To have netted a fourth-round compensatory pick this year, you needed to have an AAV of at least $13.9 million. A fifth-round compensatory pick needed an AAV of $7.017 million.
Is Alexander Mattison getting a deal worth $7 million plus? Doubt it https://t.co/OwiiqK3MQp
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) August 29, 2022
At the end of the day, do you value a decent rotational back with little to no remaining upside or being able to use that roster spot for someone that has that potential? We will find out how the new Kwesi Adofo-Mensah regime feels about it shortly.
