To say that the Minnesota Vikings 2022 draft class, which was the first under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, has been a disappointment would be a massive understatement at this point.
Of the 10 players the Vikings selected that year, only two remain, as safety Lewis Cine (Round 1-waived), cornerback Andrew Booth (Round 2-traded), offensive guard Ed Ingram (Round 2-traded), linebacker Brian Asamoah (Round 3-waived), cornerback Akayleb Evans (Round 4-waived), defensive tackle Esezi Otomewo (Round 5-waived), offensive tackle Vederian Lowe (Round 6-traded), and tight end Nick Muse (Round 7-waived) all didn't work out for one reason or another.
The most productive player from that class has been sixth-round wideout Jalen Nailor, who got off to a slow start but has been a strong WR3 for each of the last two seasons.
But he may soon be wearing another uniform as well, as Minnesota's severe lack of salary cap space may not allow the team to keep him when he becomes an unrestricted free agent at season's end.
The other remaining player on the roster from the '22 draft class, of course, is fifth-round running back Ty Chandler, who hasn't played since Week 1. And while he was finally activated off injured reserve on Monday, these last two games for Minnesota may very well be his last in a Vikings uniform.
Minnesota Vikings RB Ty Chandler may be the next member of the 2022 draft class to leave the team
Taken with the 169th overall pick in 2022, Chandler was viewed as more of a project than anything else, as the Vikings had Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison on the roster at that time.
The Tennessee native ultimately appeared in just three games as a rookie, much of which was spent on injured reserve with a thumb injury, gaining just 20 yards on six carries.
With Cook out of the picture in 2023, Chandler moved up the depth chart behind Mattison and played well, rushing for 461 yards and three touchdowns on 102 carries, while adding another 159 yards on 21 receptions.
In 2024, however, his production took a significant dip after the Vikings signed Aaron Jones. As the season progressed, Chandler also found himself behind Cam Akers on the depth chart, ultimately ending his season having gained just 182 yards on the ground and only 42 through the air.
The 27-year-old also began this 2025 season in the RB3 role after Minnesota re-signed Jones and also added Jordan Mason in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers. As mentioned, of course, his status really hasn't mattered, as he hasn't suited up since Week 1 after suffering a knee injury in the season opener against the Chicago Bears.
The Vikings opened Chandler's 21-day practice window back on December 3, and there was hope that he would suit up this past Sunday against the New York Giants, but he was ultimately ruled out. Minnesota had until Christmas Eve to activate him, and, as mentioned, did so on Monday.
With Jones and Mason both getting injured against the Giants, Chandler could see plenty of touches on Christmas Day against the Detroit Lions. But even if that happens, his future in Minnesota doesn't look promising.
With both Jones and Mason under contract for 2026, it's not as if the Vikings have big plans to get Chandler more touches. Now, if they can get him to sign a one-year deal for the league minimum, which would cost somewhere in the vicinity of $1.2 million, to return in the RB3 role, that might make sense.
But if Chandler is looking for a multiyear deal or anything beyond that aforementioned figure, Minnesota would simply be better off by adding another running back in the late rounds of April's draft and just starting the process all over again.