The 2020 season is shaping up to be an important one for Dalvin Cook. The Vikings running back is looking for a new contract coming off a career year, but also has high expectations as he told TMZ that he wants to rack up 2,000 all-purpose yards.
“We could go for 1,500 [rushing] and 500 receiving,” Cook explained while walking down the street. “Or 1,400 [and] 600!”
Such optimism has to be admired and with the way that Mike Zimmer wants to run the ball, he may have an outside shot of accomplishing that goal if he stays healthy.
Of course “if he stays healthy” has been the caveat that has followed Cook in his first three seasons. Cook racked up a career-high 1,654 all-purpose yards last season (1,135 rushing, 519 yards receiving), but was limited to 14 games and left early in two contests due to shoulder injuries.
Before that, Cook missed 12 games in 2017 with a torn ACL and five games due to a hamstring injury in 2018.
The injuries also could complicate talks of a potential extension for Cook as the two sides will likely talk about a new deal this offseason, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. If the two sides are far apart, there’s also the possibility of a holdout, which in turn would make Cook’s goal even loftier.
But a healthy and happy Cook would go a long way in helping the Vikings next season and the fourth-year back was confident that “the business will handle the business.”
General Manager Rick Spielman indicated that contract talks could start after the NFL Draft.
“Usually we do not look at extensions until we get through the draft,” Spielman said at the NFL Combine. “I consider Dalvin in one of those core group of players that we definitely want to try to keep.”
