Oct 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Helmet; Fans gather in front of U.S. Bank Stadium before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook could end up with a lengthy list of suitors for his services, but so far, his free agency has been eerily quiet. If teams are interested in onboarding the man, it hasn’t materialized into a contract.
The Vikings parted ways with Cook about a week and a half ago, and some expected the 27-year-old to latch onto the Miami Dolphins, Cook’s hometown team. No luck right away in free agency.
Cook had surgery on a problematic shoulder this offseason, seeming to imply he’ll be healthier than ever when he takes the field — for somebody — in September. Yet, at the moment, teams aren’t flocking to his doorstep for a free-agent relationship, or if they are, the asking price is off base. The ex-Viking reportedly won’t settle for a team-friendly deal during his second NFL chapter.
A week ago, Cook said on The Rich Eisen Show, “I want the value. I want somebody who values Dalvin Cook. I want somebody that wants me to be there and give me the ball. I just want to go into the right situation so I can go help somebody win.”
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler mentioned the Cook Sweepstakes on SportsCenter last weekend, “He’s in a little bit of a wait-and-see mode right now. No official visits to teams that I’m aware of, and we talk about the franchise tag with Saquon Barkley. Cook can actually wait until July 17 to sign, I’m told because you’ve got three running backs on the franchise tag — Tony Pollard and Josh Jacobs.”
And ‘no team visits’ is a little weird for the player considered the top free agent in the business.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen ranked the 12 best free agents leaguewide as of June 9th, and Cook lived at No. 1. Bowen explained, “The best cutback runner in the league, Cook topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2022 for the fourth straight season. The downhill acceleration still jumps out on the tape, and Cook can create big plays; he had 66 rushes of 10 or more yards over the past two seasons.”
So, while Cook can claim the top rung of the ladder via NFL summer free agency, either he personally is proceeding cautiously, or the market is dictating his future.
The aforementioned Dolphins, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Buffalo Bills are considered the frontrunners to sign Cook — whenever a general manager gets down to brass tacks.
Cook tabulated 1,173 rushing yards in 2022 with 10 total touchdowns. Cook’s teammate, Alexander Mattison, is forecasted to grab RB1 for the Vikings in 2023.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.