Miami Dolphins add some punch to their running back room with a veteran, but one who doesn't have significant upside
The Miami Dolphins made an addition to the roster on Thursday in an area that Mike McDaniel indicated previously would happen. Even if it was a move that some might not be all that excited about. Per FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Dolphins and RB Alexander Mattison came to terms on an agreement. […]
The Miami Dolphins made an addition to the roster on Thursday in an area that Mike McDaniel indicated previously would happen. Even if it was a move that some might not be all that excited about.
Per FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Dolphins and RB Alexander Mattison came to terms on an agreement.
Mattison is a six-year veteran who played most recently with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. However, he spent the first five years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, totaling 2370 yards on 584 carries (4.1ypc) with 11 touchdowns. He's also proven capable in the passing game, as evidenced by his 36 catches for 294 yards last year.
As he's spent the vast majority of his time in Minnesota, I reached out to A to Z Sports Vikings insider Tyler Forness for more intel on the newest Dolphin. This is what he had to say:
"Alexander Mattison was the final pick of the third round in 2019 of the Minnesota Vikings. The idea was to have him as the backup to Dalvin Cook and he was a very similar archetype. The one thing he didn't have was enough juice to maximize his ability.
"During his rookie contract, Mattison thrived when Cook was out with injury, averaging about 80 yards in the six games he was a starter. That prompted the Vikings to give him a mid-level two-year, $7 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. He in turn got 700 yards on the ground and zero touchdowns, prompting his release. Mattison knew where to go and what to do, but he lacked the explosiveness to really maximize on what he was seeing. That translated with the Las Vegas Raiders this past season.
"Right now, Mattison is an old school third down power back: good pass protector, capable receiver on swing passes, and decent in short yardage."
Mattison is a player who appears to have some usefulness as a physical short yardage back, and one who can provide some variety on third down as a pass catching option and solid blocker. There's value to those abilities, but he's not the kind of player who's going to push De'Von Achane for significant carries in all likelihood.
Still, it's nice to have some pop back in the running back room. Some that Miami could have had in 2024 if they'd held onto running back Chris Brooks.
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