‘Trade Dalvin’ Whispers Make Rounds on Social Media
Dustin Baker
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Minnesota Vikings halfback Dalvin Cook has missed six games since the beginning of 2019 and still ranks second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage.
Tennesse Titans star Derrick Henry is the pace-setter in the same timeframe, tallying 4,652 yards from scrimmage to Cook’s 3,868.
Cook has outgained Ezekiel Elliott’s 3,601 yards from scrimmage since 2019 by 267 — in five fewer games. But that doesn’t stop some entities from entertaining a Dalvin Cook trade after the 2021 season.
On Friday, SKOR North headlined its website and posted to its Twitter and Facebook pages the idea of ending the Cook era with the Vikings after this season.
And on the Facebook site:
The rationale from SKOR North is not that Cook is unbecoming of a hefty contract or that his performance is disappointing. Instead, the idea is Cook misses games and may not be in the plans if the Vikings structurally “tear it down” after the 2021 season.
Since his entry to the NFL from Florida State, Cook has missed one-third of all Vikings games.
Running backs in the modern NFL rarely experience a clean bill of health throughout an NFL season. Cook, indeed, has missed more time than most since 2017, but the bulk of his absences accrued due to season-ending injuries during his rookie and sophomore season. From 2019 on, Cook’s health is relatively commendable. For example, during 2020, the only halfbacks to appear in all 16 games were the aforementioned Derrick Henry and Devin Singletary from the Buffalo Bills.
Any legitimacy for the “trade Dalvin” camp is dependent on the outcome of this season. The Vikings are 2-3 with eyes on a .500 record if the team can down the Carolina Panthers this weekend. If Minnesota does not accomplish that task, significant “trade this guy” and “fire this coach” chatter will come to a boil. In theory, with a loss to Carolina, the Vikings would be 2-4 while entering a bye week with the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, and Green Bay Packers as the next four opponents — otherwise known as Super Bowl Contender Row.
Should the Vikings miss the playoffs, a dismissal of head coach Mike Zimmer is probable. The future of the general manager Rick Spielman — who manufactured the deal for Cook — is mysterious. Spielman could terminate Zimmer and find a new skipper. Or Vikings ownership could oust him and Zimmer, signaling a brand new shift in philosophy.
Then, Cook’s standing on the team would be examined. Not every general manager prefers an expensive running back. Per average annual salary, Cook is the NFL’s fourth-highest paid tailback. Too, in his two-game absence this season, Alexander Mattison proved he can do a reasonable job in substitution for Cook.
Cook won’t be traded any time in 2021. And as a merchant of so many yards from scrimmage and touchdowns, it’s unlikely he’s traded at all in the next 12 months. Yet, if the Vikings ripped everything down to the studs following a hypothetical bad 2021 season, then all players would be reevaluated. Yes, that includes Cook, Adam Thielen, Danielle Hunter, Eric Kendricks, Kirk Cousins, etc.
So, let that be a quasi-cautionary tale. If you endorse a full Vikings rebuild — instead of a new coach who believes he or she can win with the existing roster — players extremely familiar with the organization will likely be traded elsewhere.
That’s how rebuilds work.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. 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).
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