A free agent for nearly a week now, Dalvin Cook will likely spend more time surveying the market. The six-year Vikings running back will probably need to sort out priorities, as he said his destination target will be a winning situation and another role as a starter.
Not many places check both boxes, and it should not be out of the question Cook waits for a potential training camp/preseason injury to shake up a team’s situation.
“I want the value. I want somebody who values Dalvin Cook,” Cook said during an interview with Rich Eisen Show fill-in Tom Pelissero (via NFL.com). “I want somebody that wants me to be there and give me the ball. I just want to go into the right situation so I can go help somebody win.
“Like you said, the money is going to come. If you play good, they are going to pay you. I just want to go somewhere where it feels like it’s home and help somebody win and just go be me. Just go turn it loose and look for a home. That’s it.”
It should not be expected Cook will approach his previous Vikings terms. Minnesota gave the former second-round pick a five-year, $63MM contract just before the 2020 season. Seeing the running back market shift yet again, the Vikings are pivoting to Alexander Mattison. The longtime Cook backup signed a two-year, $7MM deal that is almost fully guaranteed. Ahead of a historic Justin Jefferson contract, Minnesota will make a substantial pay cut at running back. Cook played three seasons on his extension and balked at the prospect of a pay cut, though a specific reduction is not believed to have been offered.
This year’s running back market featured the top three options — Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard — out of play due to the franchise tag. The fallout from this and a number of other capable starters hitting the market produced a barrage of modest agreements. Miles Sanders‘ four-year, $25.4MM deal led the way, but even after the the Vikings bailed on Cook’s contract, Sanders’ AAV ranks 11th at the position. This has not been a good offseason for running backs, leading to a some state of the union-type comments from the game’s top ball carriers.
The Sanders contract should be considered a fairly safe ceiling for Cook, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com estimates (video link). While teams are interested, Cook’s position and age will limit his market. Still, Cook is the NFL’s only back to eclipse 1,100 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons. He also said the shoulder procedure he underwent in February has corrected a longstanding issue.
“I’m feeling great, being [in] the right shape and stuff like that just to play for a football team, that’s going to be the best thing,” Cook said, via Pelissero. “I’m not in a rush to go sign with nobody. I’m trying to find the right fit for me and my family.”
Kirk Cousins said he expressed faint hopes Cook could stay in Minnesota, offering (via SI.com) that “an outside chance” might exist for a reunion. While Cook expressed”a lot of love” for the Twin Cities, it would still surprise if he returns on a reduced contract. With the Broncos not expected to make a serious push, the Dolphins’ previous pole-position status does not appear threatened presently. But the Pro Bowler will aim to hold out for his hometown team — or another mystery suitor — to hit a certain financial benchmark.
Cook has averaged 8.5 yards rushing against the Bills and 6.66 yards against the Dolphins so maybe the Jets or Patriots should be taking an interest.