Speedy Vikings Free Agent Lands With the Saints
The Minnesota Vikings have lost third wideout Jalen Nailor in free agency. He can be considered the crown jewel of the disappointing 2022 draft class in the Twin Cities. The final member of that group is now off the team.
Running back Ty Chandler is headed to New Orleans.
Saints reporter Nick Underhill announced on social media, “The Saints are signing RB Ty Chandler, per source.”
The runner with college experience from Tennessee and North Carolina brings 4.38 speed to the table, but has never developed into a consistent featured back in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Mostly used as a depth player and on kick returns, Chandler has appeared in 40 games as a Viking.
Chandler missed most of his rookie campaign with a thumb injury. Even if healthy, with Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison available all year, it would’ve been hard for him to get meaningful reps. When Cook departed in the following offseason, Mattison was installed as the new RB1, and Chandler was promoted to the RB2 role.
He finally entered the starting lineup late in the season when Mattison missed a game. Chandler provided a spark, but it didn’t last long. Ultimately, Chandler was replaced with Cam Akers in 2023 and 2024, and his depth-chart tumble in 2025 — behind Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Zavier Scott — cost him the chance to make some noise in his fourth season. Injuries have also played a role throughout his NFL career.
His best campaign was still the 2023 season, when he tabulated 461 rushing yards and three touchdowns, making his only four career starts late in the season. That year, he added another 159 receiving yards. Chandler profiles as a speedy back with receiving skills, but his vision and problems in pass protection have always hindered him from getting more reps.
In New Orleans, he will fight for a depth role on the 53-man roster behind pricey free agent addition Travis Etienne and aging star Alvin Kamara. Recent draft picks Kendre Miller, Devin Neal, and Audric Estime are also still around in a crowded backfield.
Kamara, however, might be in his final days as a member of the only pro organization he has been a part of. SI’s Zach Pressnell wrote after Chandler’s addition, “While Chandler could be a special teams guy, there’s a chance this addition is foreshadowing another big move. Adding Chandler could be another step in the direction that sees Kamara traded or cut in the coming weeks.”
Kamara is 30 and has slowed down over the last couple of seasons. His contract is still pretty expensive. With Etienne now in the building, his clock might be ticking.
“Kamara,” Pressnell added, “has been mixed in trade rumors since the Saints signed Etienne. He’s attached to a decently large contract, which makes him a cut candidate, too. Considering the Saints have made another addition to the running back room, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Kamara off the roster in the coming months.”
Chandler, a 2022 5th-round pick, rushed for 710 yards and three touchdowns in his Vikings tenure, adding another 212 yards as a pass-catcher. On special teams, he logged 15 kick returns, with a career-long of 35 yards.
The Vikings will move forward with last year’s trio of Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Zavier Scott, and might add someone in the draft.
Chandler will turn 28 in a couple of months.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.