The Vikings reportedly could be looking to part with star running back Dalvin Cook in the coming weeks as the team’s front office continues to re-evaluate its roster ahead of the 2023 NFL draft.
Minnesota is currently exploring “all options” in regard to Cook, who is coming off his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl season, including the possibility of cutting the six-year veteran prior to the draft, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. With the ’23 draft scheduled to take place from April 27 to 29, the 27-year-old reportedly is considered to be a “name to watch” in a possible move, with the Vikings already having spoken to at least one interested club about a deal in recent months, per Fowler.
“I’m told all options are on the table, and [Cook] could be released if things don’t work out,” Fowler said Saturday. “They had talked to at least one team about a trade in the past closer to free agency, so he is certainly a name to watch.”
Saturday’s report adds to mounting speculation surrounding Cook’s future with the Vikings, which has been a subject of conversation since the end of the ’22 campaign due to his injury history and contract. This past season, Cook started every game for Minnesota for the first time in his career, finishing the year with 1,173 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns to go with 39 receptions for 295 yards and two receiving scores.
A second-round pick in 2017, Cook has three years remaining on a five-year, $63 million contract extension he signed in 2020. With that in mind, the Vikings could choose to act on one of several options in order to save money, with Cook set to account for a $14.1 million cap figure this upcoming season.
Minnesota could save $5.9 million against the cap if Cook is cut on or before June 1, though that number would jump to $9 million if he’s cut after that date, per OverTheCap. Trading Cook would save the Vikings $7.9 million against the cap on or before June 1, or $11 million after that date.
While it remains to be seen how things play out, both Cook’s agent, Zach Hiller, and Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah commented on the situation this week. On Friday, Hiller called the Vikings “mediocre” during a podcast appearance after noting Cook has posted “Hall of Fame numbers” while playing through injuries. His comments came a day after Adofo-Mensah hesitated to commit to Cook when asked if he would be on the roster next season.
“Conversations are always ongoing with him,” he said Thursday, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. “We’re trying to be solutions-oriented and always try to put the roster together within our constraints.”
