November 28, 2021; Santa Clara, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports.
Give him the damn ball.
In a nutshell, that’s Dalvin Cook’s one ask from his next NFL employer.
The Minnesota Vikings released Cook last Friday, freeing up $9 million in cap space and allowing the soon-to-be 28-year-old to sign anywhere in the league via free agency.
Cook played for the Vikings from 2017 to 2022, with six seasons of unabashed upper-echelon performance. Minnesota extended Cook late in the summer of 2020, and in the last three seasons, he ranks second in yards from scrimmage and sixth in touchdowns among running backs. One of the frequent knocks on Cook at the time of extension was health, but after the extension, he immediately became one of the most durable tailbacks in the industry. He ranks fifth in games started among RBs since 2020, playing 88% of Vikings games.
And Cook has no plans to accept a ‘reduced role’ or anything of the sort with his next team. Cook joined The Rich Eisen Show on Tuesday, along with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, and said, “I want the value. I want somebody who wants Dalvin Cook.”
Cook added about his ongoing free agency, “I’m all fixed up now. My shoulder’s feeling great. And, like you said, you know what you’re getting out of Dalvin Cook. As soon as I step foot in that locker room or on the football field, you know that I’m gonna be the best teammate and best leader that you can get.”
Last week, Pelissero appeared on the same show — without Cook on the phone — and mentioned the Cook sweepstakes, “Dalvin Cook, I would fairly say, is not coming in for $4 or $5 million. This is going to be a significant contract.”
When Cook fetches a contract of $6 million or more, that team will have to showcase Cook as the Vikings did for six years workload-wise to make the contract worthwhile. Otherwise, that team could embark on a committee-style approach, like the Vikings seem to be planning with Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride, and Kene Nwangwu.
“My understanding is they’re open to both a one-year deal and multi-year deal. This could move quickly, or Dalvin could sit back knowing he’s got $2 million guaranteed from his Vikings contract, wait, and see how things fall if he doesn’t like the offers he’s got up front here,” Pelissero added.
The frontrunners to sign Cook are [oddly] all AFC teams — the Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Buffalo Bills.
Cook scored 3 touchdowns over 50+ yards in 2022.
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.