4 unheralded players the Vikings should extend in 2020

C.J. Ham – FB

C.J. Ham is a player who just keeps getting better and better. He is a fun story coming from a tiny school called Augustana in South Dakota.

He was undrafted and invited to the Vikings minicamp on a tryout basis back in 2016. He was a longshot to make it, but he was eventually signed to Minnesota’s 90-man roster.

Since then, Ham has worked his way onto the Vikings practice squad, then to their active roster, and now he has worked his way into becoming one of the best fullbacks in the league and an integral part of Minnesota’s offense.

Ham is a vicious blocker. It’s not always easy to see when a game is going live, but when looking back at the film, he absolutely destroys defenders. Time and time again, he has sent a would-be tackler flying this season. He’s a big reason why Dalvin Cook has had such a big year.

Ham not only excels at blocking, but he has proven to be a useful weapon to the offense. He has caught 15 balls for 137 yards and a touchdown this season.

For whatever reason, he also is Kirk Cousins’ favorite target when he has a free play after an opponent has jumped offsides. Ham also gets the occasional carry and he is a standout special teams player.

Minnesota should look to extend Ham’s contract this season or at least re-sign him next year. He is a restricted free agent in 2020, so the Vikings will get a draft pick of whatever value they slap on him if he’s wooed by another team.

Ham has proven his worth to the team and he should be rewarded with a multi-year deal that keeps him opening up holes and catching dump-off passes for the next three to five years in a Minnesota uniform.