The Minnesota Vikings and Dalvin Cook came together after a long offseason of negotiations agreeing on a five-year extension, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
No franchise tag situation in Minnesota: Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook and the #Vikings have agreed to a 5yr, $63M extension, sources tell @RapSheet and me. After just 29 career games, Cook locks in over $28M guaranteed.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 12, 2020
The deal will reportedly put $28.5 million guaranteed in Cook’s bank account, in addition to an average annual salary of $12.5 million.
The deal comes on the eve of the season opener, when the Vikings host the Packers Sunday at noon at U.S. Bank Stadium. Cook had previously stated he would be “full-go” for the season with or without a new deal, but the team broke off negotiations with Cook’s camp several weeks ago as many top running backs across the league reached new deals.
Cook’s new deal puts him in the top five for average annual salary tied with Derrick Henry, who signed a similar five-year extension with the Tennessee Titans earlier this summer.
Now that Cook is signed, the Vikings will hope that he stays on the field. Cook has played in just 29 of 48 possible games in his three-year career but played in a career-high 14 last season.
With Cook signed the Vikings do have the centerpiece of their offense signed and ready to potentially post career high numbers in 2020.
