Vikings announce $7 million starter of impending release, according to an insider

The Minnesota Vikings are ready to move on.

That was their message to last season’s opening day starting running back Alexander Mattison, the team’s leading rusher last season.

“Vikings informed RB Alexander Mattison today that they are releasing him, per source,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on February 29. “Mattison took over last season for Dalvin Cook and ran for 700 yards and caught 30 passes. Now he becomes a free agent again, like last year when he signed a two-year deal with Minnesota.”

This is likely a cost-cutting move.

Mattison, 25, is supposed to begin the second year of a two-year, $7 million contract this coming season. Cutting him now would only net the Vikings $600,000 in cap savings. However, if they designate him as a post-June 1 cut, they will save $3.5 million, per Spotrac.

The Vikings have $38.5 million in cap space following the NFL’s adjustment to the salary cap and before making this move.

Mattison, who shared a fan’s clip of him hurdling a defender in celebration of Leap Day earlier on in the day, led the Vikings with 700 yards on 180 carries last season, both career highs.

He also had 192 yards and three touchdowns on 30 receptions.

However, Mattison failed to cross the goal line on the ground all season and finished the 2023 season with minus-5 yards in 12 carries from inside the opponents’ 10-yard line. His 3.9 yards per carry ranked 22nd among the 30 players with at least 180 carries last season, per Stahead.

Alexander Mattison Expected to Draw Interest in Free Agency

Despite his middling production, Mattison is not expected to be out of work very long if and when he officially gets his walking papers.

The Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Philadelphia Eagles could all be among the teams searching for help at running back that could see value in a hard-nosed runner like Mattison this offseason.

For Mattison, the Bears and Ravens are consistently among the NFL’s best rushing attacks. The Texans revitalized the career of former Buffalo Bills back Devin Singletary in 2023.

The Cowboys and Eagles, like the Ravens, are also consistently in playoff contention.