Questions Answered: Justin Jefferson and the Bengals, Underrated Vikings Free Agent, Dalvin Cook
Dustin Baker
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The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the April 11th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Justin Jefferson and the Bengals, Underrated Vikings Free Agent, Dalvin Cook
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Do you consider any of the Justin Jefferson trade talk to the Bengals a real thing? I saw where he was jealous of Ja’Marr Chase’s and Justin Burrow’s connection.
Answer: No.
First, Jefferson made “jealous” comments in jest. Aren’t you, as a fan, jealous that Burrow isn’t the Vikings’ quarterback?
Jefferson is expected to become the highest-paid wide receiver in history soon, and most fans believe he is waiting to see the franchise’s quarterback plan after Kirk Cousins left via free agency four weeks ago.
The Vikings will not trade Jefferson — not during an offseason when they just allowed their expensive quarterback to walk. The stars have been aligning for an era involving Jefferson’s mammoth contract and a rookie quarterback to offset his price.
A deal will get done with Jefferson in purple. He ain’t leavin’.
Q: Who’s your one big underrated Vikings free agent from this cycle?
Answer: Shaquill Griffin.
Minnesota wants to play more man-to-man coverage — that works best for Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme — and Griffin can do precisely that.
Believe it or not, Flores’ secondary is deep with cornerbacks, including Griffin, Byron Murphy, Mekhi Blackmon, Akayleb Evans, and Andrew Booth. Of course, there is no absolute superstar among the group, but the room has several decent players.
Griffin has ample starting experience, and much like Duke Shelley in 2022, Vikings fans will learn that Griffin is quite good.
Q: Is Dalvin Cook cooked?
A: Yes, probably.
A Dallas reporter claimed the Cowboys might be interested in Cook or Ezekiel Elliott, but neither would be an RB1 solution. Cook latched onto the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens last year but failed to make an impact.
Cook had a fabulous run as Minnesota’s RB1, but any assignments subsequently will probably be slated for RB2 or RB3. In fact, his efficiency dipped in 2022, but no one really cared because he still broke off humongous touchdown scampers.
He’ll be 29 this summer, and Cook is one of those running backs that truly hit a wall.
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 MIN 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.
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