Earlier today, it was confirmed by the Vikings themselves that they have moved on from running back Dalvin Cook. The move brought an end to a lengthy period of speculation and trade rumors, something which was largely a result of each party’s financial approach to the situation. 
By releasing Cook, Minnesota will see $9MM in cap savings. That adds to the money they have saved by parting ways with the likes of Eric Kendricks and Adam Thielen, other veteran contributors to the team’s 13-4 season in 2022. The Vikings are resetting financially at many positions this year (with the notable exception of quarterback), which helped inform their decision to turn over starting running back duties to Alexander Mattison.
When discussing Cook’s release on the Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted that the Vikings never offered a pay cut to the four-time Pro Bowler (video link). Cook, 27, was due a base salary of $10.4MM in 2023, with a scheduled cap hit of just over $14.1MM. Lowering those figures through a restructure could have extended his Minnesota tenure, but the team made a two-year commitment to Mattison in March, signaling their intent to shed costs at the RB position.
Still, Minnesota explored the idea of a re-worked Cook deal (along with a trade) for months, as detailed by Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Pelissero adds that Cook had no desire to work out a restructure as part of a trade, a stance which has now left him free to join the team of his choice. His free agent process will be worth watching, though it may not develop with much urgency.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that Cook – who is due $2MM in guranteed money from the Vikings – “plans to be patient in waiting for the right situation.” The Dolphins could very well represent that for the Miami native and Florida State alum; as was the case before, the Dolphins can be considered a strong suitor for Cook on the free agent market. The value of his next deal (wherever it comes from) will come in below the one he had been playing on, but it will have implications for the Vikings as well as his new team.
Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo notes that Cook’s guarantees include offset language (Twitter link). Minnesota would thus be in line to recoup the $2MM owed to him assuming he lands a deal worth more than that amount from his new employer. The running back market was very modest at the onset of free agency, but a patient approach to the next chapter of his career could yield a favorable on-field and financial situation for Cook. The Vikings, meanwhile, will look for ways to reallocate the money saved through his release as they aim to build around their young core.
Young core? 34-yr old cousins and Jefferson. Core means there are other stars or up and coming players who have shown progress in the nfl.
Even number one overall picks flop all the time so ignore the whole last draft… where else are they good? They basically let each team walk over their defense last year, and it’s probably gotten worse. Ground game is way worse! Receiving corps might improve, but that’s putting a lot of faith in Addison. Maybe Cousins will take more than a few steps out of the pocket per game this year, but he’ll probably be the statue he’s always been, so fans are praying the O-line to take a step forward. That’s unlikely since most teams trying to compete actually work on improving their defense instead of giving up on that side of the ball.
Tanking teams are the worst and owners should be fined.
Your opinion. Mine is that they have plenty of young players that will have a chance to step up and they have money to add to that core. TJ, JJ, HS & KC are pro bowlers. Murphy is solid and they have a new star in Asmouah. Watch out for KJ and Addison too. Chandler is home run hitter also. The Vikings will be fine.
The reality is that Cook is not better than Mattison, just more expensive. If the Vikings are to be fined, it should be for not taking a fourth rounder from the Dolphins during the draft. Some might say that keeping a more expensive version of another player already on your roster is mismanagement. This seems a lot like Dallas choosing Pollard over the more expensive Elliot, not the Vikings tanking like Washington.
WOW !!
Amazed at all the comments on this from Viking fans !!
The Giants should rescind the franchise tender offer to Barkley and give that money to Cook. The dude has proven he can win some games for you, unlike Barkley.
I think it’s highly unlikely Cook would have been as successful if Gettleman had been the Vikings GM. Cook had much better support around him than Barkley has ever had.