Dalvin Cook Still Appreciated by ‘Madden’
If you have noticed the state of free agency this offseason, NFL organizations have all but cast off veteran running backs. With the position never in less of a demand for premium talent, paydays just aren’t coming. The Minnesota Vikings moved on from Dalvin Cook, but it doesn’t look like Madden 24 has.
Dalvin Cook Still Appreciated by ‘Madden’
When the offseason began, questions immediately started swirling surrounding Dalvin Cook’s future with the Minnesota Vikings. Kevin O’Connell changed how Minnesota operated on offense, and separating from Mike Zimmer’s run-first philosophy was chief among them.
Dalvin Cook obviously felt that in his usage, and despite being healthy all season for the first time in his career, his production had never been lower. Madden 24 has been kind to the Vikings, and that continues with the ex-runner’s mark as well.
Rather than keep Cook around, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah decided to bring back Alexander Mattison and make him the bell cow back. With Cook gone, Mattison is set to share duties with Ty Chandler, Kene Nwanwgu, and DeWayne McBride. None of them measure up to Cook’s 91 overall rating in Madden 24, however.
Nick Chubb is dubbed as the best running back in the NFL with a 97 overall rating, and he is closely followed by Christian McCaffrey, Josh Jacobs, and Derrick Henry. Sixth on the list is the free agent, Cook, and Saquon Barkley (who is just ahead of him), who could also be holding out for more.
There have been plenty of rumblings about where Dalvin Cook may land this offseason, and the focus has largely been on the AFC East. A fit with the hometown Miami Dolphins seems like a no-brainer, but Cook hasn’t seen a contract he’s thrilled to sign yet. The New York Jets have been suggested as a suitor, and playing alongside Aaron Rodgers would be a weird look for Cook. The new betting favorites are the New England Patriots, which seems odd given their reluctance to spend on the position over the years.
Either way, it’s hard to argue that Madden 24 got the rating for Dalvin Cook wrong in any way. He’s still an elite-level runner, and while he’s not the best in the league, he’s right up there. Minnesota understands this, and the Vikings would have been happy to retain his services, but it was never going to happen with the cap figure tied to him for 2023.
After an offseason shoulder surgery, it will be interesting to see what level of health Cook brings to the table for his new team. After playing in all of Minnesota’s games last year, the procedure would suggest he still dealt with the ailment behind the scenes. Maybe in a more run-friendly offense, he can bolster the overall production again.
No matter where Cook winds up for the year ahead, it’s foolish to call his career anything close to over. He is still very clearly a talented runner, and when he does sign with a new team, the folks at EA Sports want to ensure that Cook is a usable asset in the offense. The 91 overall rating is a fair one, and now Cook just needs to find a jersey to produce.
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Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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