Vikings Urged to Sign $22 Million RB to Replace Alex Mattison
The Minnesota Vikings need reinforcements at running back after a disappointing season from Alexander Mattison, and few signings would have a bigger impact than signing Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley,
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis suggested.In a Feb. 6 article, Lewis suggested eight high-end free agents “who make sense if the Vikings go big this season” and mentioned the New York Giants star as an ideal free agent who sings to bolster play quickly.
“If the Vikings were to spend money, an interesting move would be to capitalize on league-wide trends and add a proven, dynamic (and aging) running back like Barkley. Barkley will turn 27 later this week.
Of the 49 running backs who qualified last season, Barkley’s average yards after contact per run (2.92) ranked 24th.
Adding Barkley to the Vikings’ mix of good players could be transformative for both him and the offense (like the 49ers trading for Christian McCaffrey).
It would be a bold move for a team that can’t afford to make mistakes.”Barkley is set for free agency following a leak that the Giants have no plans to franchise the former No. 1 pick. 2 this season.
Pro Football Focus (PFF) projected that Barkley would sign a two-year deal worth $22 million, an average annual value of $11 million per season, which would rank seventh heading into 2024 free agency.
The solution that Saquon Barkley could bring to the VikingsLast season, the Vikings ranked in the bottom five in the red zone with a touchdown conversion rate of 47.1%, in part due to a poor game.
The Vikings scored just seven rushing touchdowns, ranking 30th in the NFL.
Mattison, the team’s leading rusher with 180 carries for 700 yards, has not scored a rushing touchdown this season. Offensive options were limited in the red zone, as the defense effectively stopped the run and forced the Vikings to be one-dimensional.
Barkley’s combination of size and speed could help in the red zone. Standing 6’3″ and 220 pounds, Barkley is a force between the tackles and agile enough to shake defenders in space.In addition to scoring goals, the Vikings also left their defense crippled during the season, unable to sustain their attacks.
Barkley is a capable pass catcher in the backfield and could play several unique roles that the Vikings have yet to see in running back Kevin O’Connell.
The Vikings coach preached about creating more favorable situations on second and third downs and by adding a versatile defender like Barkley, the Vikings could exploit inconsistencies on the field, create more chances on each series and maintain their attacks constantly.
