DeWayne McBride was always going to need time to learn the offense — protection responsibilities, the lengthy play calls, and even how to read certain runs. For that reason, he fell to the seventh round. The Vikings like his downhill running style, and it’s possible that the bevy of running backs on the market makes it easier for the Vikings to give him time to develop on the practice squad.

Related Players: Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler

It seems as though Kene Nwangwu has locked up the RB3 slot in Minnesota, with his ability to return kicks adding some flexibility to the roster spot. After Ty Chandler's fantastic showing through the preseason, Alexander Mattison is the only body in the way of extended playing time for Chandler.

A year ago, Chandler won a roster spot after leading the Vikings in preseason rushing yards; if he could show a broader set of skills in 2023, he might be able to win the team's No. 2 running back job.

Related Players: Kene Nwangwu, DeWayne McBride

Alexander Mattison is for sure slated for the RB1 job but it's a stretch to expect him to garner the type of workload Dalvin Cook held on to for years. Chandler could sneak into a third down role and start popping more on fantasy radars

Vikings are to officially release Dalvin Cook on Friday. One of the NFL’s most dynamic playmakers, Cook is coming off a fourth straight 1,000-yard season and has 52 career TDs. Now he’ll be a free agent at age 27 and will have multiple suitors.

Related Players: Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler

The move has been long-rumored, so this doesn't come as much surprise. According to talks throughout the offseason, Mattison should be expected to takeover the lead-back role, with Chandler acting as the team's No. 2.

Vikings OC Wes Phillips on whether second-year RB Ty Chandler is ready for an increased role: "I think he's going to have to be."

Chandler probably has the advantage in the competition for the presumptive No. 2 RB spot behind presumptive No. 1 RB Alexander Mattison.

Related Players: Dalvin Cook

Yet more smoke to the fire that is Dalvin Cook playing the 2023 season outside of Minnesota. We're past June 1st, so the news on Cook moving on is presumably right around the corner.

The only change that has happened within the last few weeks is the Vikings’ addition of UAB running back DeWayne McBride in the seventh round of the draft.

While it’s easy to salivate over McBride’s early-down potential, his learning curve will be steep. Pass protection assignments will require study. The Vikings also have faith in Alexander Mattison, whom they re-signed in free agency, and Ty Chandler, whom the team drafted in 2022.

Dalvin Cook has dealt with injuries through most of his NFL career, including an offseason surgery to repair a shoulder injury. An interested team would have to take on his contract which currently makes him the fourth-highest paid RB I'm the league.

He is currently ranked outside of the top-12 RBs in 4for4's rankings.