NFL Draft 2022: What the Vikings can expect from their Day 3 picks
By Adam Carlson
Round 5: Ty Chandler, RB – North Carolina
Running back isn’t a massive need for the Vikings since they have Dalvin Cook. Alexander Mattison, and Kene Nwangwu all returning for 2022. That said, adding a speedy running back like Ty Chandler to the roster sets up the team for the future and offers some great concepts for Minnesota’s offense.
Chandler carried the ball a lot over four seasons with Tennessee and one with North Carolina, totaling 3,138 yards on 603 carries with 26 rushing touchdowns. The 5’11, 204-pound running back added 73 catches for 681 yards and four more scores.
NFL.com comparison and projection: none (Rounds 5-6)
The Good
As Chandler gained experience as a runner, he continued to improve. He had a breakout year in 2021 with North Carolina where he broke 1,000 yards on the ground and scored 14 offensive touchdowns. If ever needed for a big role on offense, he should be up for the task.
Gaining momentum is another huge asset of Chander. He works up to a blazing top speed and is good at navigating behind blockers to hit holes and be patient. He also has good hands as a receiver to catch the ball out of the backfield.
The Bad
Despite a great top speed, his acceleration while plays develop leaves a bit to be desired. Cuts cause him to lose more momentum than they should, causing him to need to restart his acceleration again.
Sometimes Chandler takes some unnecessary impact on hits, absorbing a lot of damage by not keeping his pads level, and does the same thing as a rusher at times by tilting his pads as a hint to defenders as to the direction he will be going.
What to Expect
It’s hard to know what to expect from Ty Chandler as a rookie. Ideally, Minnesota won’t need him on offense and special teams might not be the best place for him unless he can work on the physical aspects of it. He won’t replace Nwangwu on special teams and likely won’t pass any of the top three on the depth chart this year.