Seeking Extension – Dalvin Cook and Vikings have “Productive Talks”

By SkolMemes |

Updated: May 19, 2020

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

How long will Dalvin Cook wear a Vikings uniform? According to ESPN NFL Senior reporter Jeremy Fowler, Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota Vikings have been in “productive talks” about a possible contract extension.

Will be a big few months for RBs from ‘17 draft class trying to bolster position. Vikings’ Dalvin Cook and Bengals’ Joe Mixon have had productive talks with their teams about new deals, I’m told, though nothing is close at this time. Saints value Alvin Kamara. Others waiting, too pic.twitter.com/s6VfTKj9x9
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 18, 2020

This is good news. No, this is GREAT news for Vikings fans! Dalvin Cook (barring injury) is a “Bell Cow” running back for Minnesota, something the Vikings have been missing since the departure of Adrian Peterson after the 2016 season.

The Vikings can go one of two ways..

Option 1

Sign Dalvin Cook to a massive contract extension. An extension that would be similar to Ezekiel Elliot’s 6yr/$90M deal with the Cowboys and/or Christian McCaffrey’s 4yr/$64M deal with Carolina. An average salary in that range would make Dalvin Cook one of the highest paid running backs in the NFL keeping “Cookie” in Minnesota for the foreseeable future.

Option 2

The other option would be to wait until after the 2020 season to determine if Dalvin Cook is worth bringing back. Dalvin Cook is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) after the 2020 season where he can test the market with a plethora of other potential UFAs.

Notable 2021 Free Agent RBs

• Derrick Henry
• Joe Mixon
• Alvin Kamara
• Aaron Jones
• Dalvin Cook
• James Conner
• Chris Carson
• Leonard Fournette
• Marlon Mack
• Kareem Hunt
• Adrian Peterson
• Kenyan Drake
• Tarik Cohen
• Todd Gurley
• Philip Lindsay (RFA)
— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) May 18, 2020

Of course, we could see Dalvin Cook holdout. As of now, Dalvin Cook will not hold out according to Tom Pelissero; which is more good news for fans, coaches and the front office.

The #Vikings begin the virtual period of their voluntary offseason program today, and star RB Dalvin Cook plans to participate while awaiting a new contract, per sources.

Cook is entering the last year of his rookie deal.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 27, 2020

In hindsight, Dalvin Cook likely realizes that holding out for a new deal might not bring in a higher annual salary. Yes, it worked for Elliot, but it backfired for Melvin Gordon and Le’Veon Bell who both left the teams they were drafted by and signed for less money.

The Vikings hold all of the leverage in these “Productive Talks” with Dalvin Cook. As someone who has a Dalvin Cook jersey, I’m hoping that both sides can reach an agreement to keep the Vikings offensive core intact.