With a week to go before the new league year begins in the NFL, the rumor mill is popping and a lot of the rumors have to do with the Minnesota Vikings. There was a report earlier Thursday from Adam Schefter saying wide receiver Adam Thielen could be cut in the coming days, and Eric Kendricks was released by Minnesota earlier this week.
Another name entering the rumor mill Thursday is running back Dalvin Cook, who is reportedly drawing interest from at least one team.
“I did hear that there is an offer in on Dalvin Cook. So if they wanted to trade Dalvin Cook, there is an interested team,” said KSTP’s Darren Wolfson on Mackey & Judd. “You look at the running back market, there’s not a whole lot there, depending on what you think of Miles Sanders. David Montgomery is OK. Alexander Mattison is OK.”
Minnesota, even with Cook and Mattison in the backfield last season, was one of the worst rushing teams in the league. They finished ranked 28th in rush attempts, 27th in yards and 26 in yards per/attempt. By Football Outsiders’ DVOA, they ranked 28th. In expected points added per rush, they ranked 29th. In success rate, they ranked 25th.
Cook’s cap hit currently sits at $14.1 million. If the Vikings cut or trade him before June 1, they’d save roughly $8 million against the cap. If they wait until after June 1, they’d save about $9 million. With the Vikings currently about $15 million over the cap, that’s a big number to digest without ditching it or restructuring his deal.
At the NFL Combine last week, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said he’d be “surprised” if Cook isn’t a Viking next season.
“I’d be surprised if he’s not a Viking,” Pelissero said. “He’s got $2 million that becomes fully guaranteed next week. He’s coming off shoulder surgery so that money’s locked in already. I would anticipate that he’s absolutely on the team.”
