Questions Answered: Kyle Hamilton Side-Eye, Mattison’s Future, Andrew Booth Praise
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by PurplePTSD. Today is the May 7th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
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Q: How long will the “Vikings should’ve drafted Kyle Hamilton” be a thing?
A: Probably for a decade.
Hamilton was considered a Top 3 draft prospect, and there is a strong possibility he absolutely thrives in Baltimore. Even more so than “trading with the Packers” resentment, not choosing Hamilton could bite the Vikings in the rump. He was right there for the plucking.
So, it’s up to Lewis Cine now. He must outperform — or stay equal — with Hamilton for Adofo-Mensah’s vindication of passing on a sure-fire talent. Andrew Booth ascending to stardom would help, too.
Q: How long does Alexander Mattison have left on the team, and is there a chance he’s waived before the regular season begins?
A: One more year is the safe answer.
There is a slight chance he gets released in favor of a Kene Nwangwu and Ty Chandler RB2 sandwich this summer, but Mattison is actually quite productive. Why waive him just because?
In all likelihood, Mattison will play out the final year of his contract (this year) and then audition for an RB1 job elsewhere in 2023. And again, Mattison is an apt RB2 filling for Cook, so what’s the upside of cutting him? Enlighten us.
Q: It seems the rest of the world is coming around to applaud the Vikings draft selection of Andrew Booth. When do you realistically think he’ll be a starting cornerback?
A: He had 1st-Round draft stock, so he should be ready, like, now.
Fortunately, the Vikings have Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler, enabling Ed Donatell to ease Booth into the system.
Booth will play a lot in 2022, but it’s a toss-up whether he’s a Week 1 starter. We say probably not.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
