Contract talks between the Vikings and running back Dalvin Cook have been put on pause, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Talks could resume at some point before the end of the season but, for now, Cook says he’s keeping his focus on the season ahead.
Cook is entering the walk year of his rookie deal, putting him on track for free agency in March. The Vikings could keep him from the open market with the franchise tag, but that likely won’t sit well with the former second-round pick. Throughout the spring, there were rumblings of a potential 2020 holdout, so Cook could very well take a hard-line stance next year. On the plus side, Cook has repeatedly expressed a desire to stay in Minnesota.
“This is where I want to be at. This is what I love to do,” Cook said recently. “I was going to be here regardless of whatever the speculations (that) came up or (questions of) if I wasn’t coming. I was going to be here ready to work. … I’m locked up full go, a thousand percent.”
Cook is set to make $1.33MM this year. Both sides would like to hammer out an extension, but the running back’s $15MM-per-year asking price is a bit too high for the Vikes, especially with a salary cap slash on the way.
Last year, Cook posted career highs with 250 carries, 1,135 rushing yards (4.5 YPC), and 13 touchdowns. He also managed 53 catches for 519 yards, positioning him as one of the best RBs in the league. Those totals would have been even higher, if not for a late-season chest injury.
Could they do some sort of front loaded deal with some of the cap space left my Pierce’s opt out? Or is that not a thing that can be done?
Always hurt and the backup produced nearly as well let him go
If he balls out, tag him. He could be traded for a nice package.
Anything above $10 million for a RB is ridiculous nowadays, especially one who hasn’t played a full season yet. On to the next one.
He’s not bad, but… he’s not irreplaceable