Could Vikings running back Dalvin Cook be on his way out to greener pastures this coming offseason? It’s still too early to draw any foregone conclusions, but he’s reportedly made it known that he’d rather be shipped than be forced to take a pay cut just to remain with the team.
TPS says Darren Wolfson spoke to Cook, who apparently made his stance clear that he’d prefer to not take a pay cut.
“I had a conversation this morning that leads me to believe … that Dalvin is not inclined to take a pay cut,” Wolfson said.
Cook is slated to carry a $14.1 million cap hit with him this year, as part of the lucrative 5-year extension he signed back in 2020. That number would go up to over $15 million the following year, then back down to $13.5 million in the year after. Cook’s deal is valued to be up to $63 million. Kevin Brown voices similar reports regarding Cook.
“Vikings RB Dalvin Cook, scheduled to make $14.1M in 2023, says he is not interested in taking a pay cut and would prefer to be traded. With the mix of veterans and rookies this year a trade is unlikely. He will likely settle for less elsewhere.”
Cook posted his fourth consecutive 1,000 rushing yards season this year, posting a respectable 1,173 rush yards (4.4 AVG) and 8 rushing touchdowns. Additionally, he put together 295 receiving yards off 39 receptions (7.8 AVG) and 2 touchdown catches. Cook has never averaged less than 4.4 yards per carry since entering the league in 2017.
He’s always been a consistent workhorse for the Vikings since his number was called, and he’s still only 27 years old. I can understand why he would prefer not to take a pay cut. If you’re consistently putting in the work at a high level, why should you be punished for that? If the Vikings are struggling with cap space, that’s not Cook’s fault.
That said, I can also understand the Vikings’ realm of thinking to a degree. The free-agent class for RBs this year is going to be loaded with talent. It’s very possible that the organization can get similar production on a cheaper deal.
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