C.J.

Ham

Ham was about to enter the final year of his contract that carried a $3.8 million cap hit. Instead, he gets two more years on the books and the Vikings likely reduced his cap hit for the 2023 season. Ham caught 10 passes for 86 yards last year and added seven yards on four carries as a runner. He moved the chains nine times on his 14 touches. Ham is also a solid blocker and ranked fourth on the Vikings in special teams snaps in 2022.

It’s the slightest upgrade for Cook, who is the consensus RB1 overall for Week 11.

Ham has placed 37 percent of the team’s offensive snaps this year primarily as a blocker for Dalvin Cook. While Ham’s absence could impact the Vikings’ running game, Cook drafters shouldn’t fret too much.

The deal is worth “up to” $12.25 million, paying Ham $4 million in 2020. Ham had been set to become a restricted free agent. He was amongst the league leaders in snaps at fullback last season, doing a strong job throwing lead blocks for Dalvin Cook. Ham has 55 career touches, 24 of which came last year. He turns 27 in July.

The Pro Bowl alternate played a career high 35 percent of snaps this season. Only the 49ers ran more two-back formations than the Vikings. The loss of OC Kevin Stefanski to the Browns could be a hit to Ham’s role, but he’ll be back as Dalvin Cook’s lead blocker in 2020.

He’s been getting some first-team reps. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune’s Andrew Krammer thinks Ham could see time as a pass protector on third downs this year. Ham’s not going to cut into Dalvin Cook’s workload, but this is a bad sign for rookie Alexander Mattison’s early-season role.

Ham was an exclusive rights free agent, so his only options were to sign the deal or walk away from football. He will be a restricted free agent next offseason. A 2016 UDFA, Ham played 139 snaps last season, which was tied for ninth amongst fullbacks.