Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah recently stopped short of guaranteeing that RB Dalvin Cook would be back with the team in 2023, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com says multiple clubs believe Minnesota has entertained trade discussions on the four-time Pro Bowler (subscription required).
Cook, 27, is under club control through 2025 thanks to the five-year, $63MM extension he signed in September 2020. That accord makes him the fourth-highest-paid RB in the league in terms of AAV, but his production has justified the splurge on a generally devalued position. Over the past four seasons, which all culminated in Pro Bowl acclaim, the Florida State product has averaged 1,256 rushing yards per year while maintaining a YPC rate over 4.6. He has also added roughly 350 receiving yards per season, and he amassed 30 total touchdowns across the 2019-20 campaigns.
On the other hand, the Vikings are in a difficult salary cap situation despite the recent cuts of Cameron Dantzler, Adam Thielen, and Eric Kendricks, and trading Cook would result in a cap savings of nearly $8MM (though it would also come with a dead cap charge of over $6MM). Plus, Cook’s YPC dropped to 4.4 in 2022, which is a solid mark but which nonetheless represents the lowest single-season average of his career. He did suit up for all 18 of Minnesota’s games in 2022 — the first time he ever enjoyed perfect attendance — though he typically misses at least some time due to injury and could be sidelined for much, if not all, of the offseason program and training camp due to shoulder surgery.
Longtime Cook backup, Alexander Mattison, is eligible for free agency for the first time in his career. As Fowler notes, Mattison is in line for a role as a full-time starter somewhere, and that might just be in Minnesota. The 2019 third-rounder would doubtlessly be much less expensive than Cook, but he has shown promise as an understudy and is obviously already familiar with the team’s offense. Fowler reports that the Vikes are indeed attempting to re-sign Mattison.
Cook is the second high-profile, well-compensated back whose name has surfaced in recent trade rumors. Last week, we heard that the Titans were shopping Derrick Henry, though a subsequent report suggested otherwise.
Panthers probably want to pair him with Richardson. They’ll give up every pick they have left and the offensive player on Minnesota’s choice lol.
The Vikings are learning the usual lesson – don’t pay great money for good players. Cousins is middle of the pack and should be paid as such.
I don’t understand why people continue to parrot this incorrect narrative. He’s a top 10 QB in every statistical category and he was the most clutch QB last year which does away with that tired narrative. The Vikings defense has been the problem for the last 4 years not Cousins. Also his contract isn’t bad compared to Jones and Carr who aren’t nearly as good as Cousins.
His stats are distorted due to having above average receivers to throw to. Good route runners who can create space while having great hands and being fearless when going after thrown balls make their quarterback look good statistically. Cousins “clutch QB last year” accolade has more to do with the plays called and his failed execution of earlier game opportunities which then positioned him to finally deliver in crunch time.
Stat distortion bc of good WRs?! Guess Mahomes isn’t as good as people think, nor Allen or Burrow?! Good WRs make good QBs look better and vice versa. That’s why it’s a team game.
I agree HB, 100%. The people who say that about KC don’t know what they’re talking about.
HA, you’re wrong. Watch the Vikings closely and you’ll know better.
Only problem is he is being paid middles of the pack money. Giants are paying a below average QB with a career high TD mark of 22 40 mil. Yes he is younger than Cousins. But better that remains to be seen.
Getting Cook off the books is a win for the Vikings.
I’m not a Cousins fan but he’s not the biggest problem in Minnesota. You don’t fix years of bad coaching, drafts and contracts overnight.