The Vikings drafted running back Alexander Mattison in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, higher than most experts had him.
While the Vikings have Dalvin Cook, they also have a hole to fill with Latavius Murray signing with the Saints this offseason.
Vikings coach Mike Zimmer is optimistic and liked what he saw from Mattison on tape.
“I like a lot of things about him,” Zimmer said Friday. “He catches the ball well, he’s physical, and he’s got a long, strong lower body. Most of the time when he made contact he was always falling forward. I think he’s a good prospect to work with.”
Mattison ran for 1,415 yards at Boise State last season, averaging 4.7 yards per carry to go with 17 touchdowns. He also caught 27 passes for 173 yards.
While the Vikings want Cook on the field more than not, you can’t ignore the fact that he’s missed 17 games in his career already.
Rookie camp opened on Friday so the coaches will get a better idea of how they can use Mattison to his full capabilities.
