Minnesota Vikings great Dalvin Cook going to get run for Dallas Cowboys

When the Minnesota Vikings turned the page on the running back position last season they did so to give Alexander Mattison a shot. It appeared that Dalvin Cook’s best days were behind him, and the productive backup seemed like a sensible replacement. That didn’t go well for either party, and both are with new teams this year. After spending the first handful of weeks on the practice squad, the Dallas Cowboys are set to activate Cook on Sunday.

The #Cowboys plan to elevate RB Dalvin Cook from the practice squad for Sunday night’s game vs the #49ers, per source.

Former Pro Bowler set to make his Dallas debut. pic.twitter.com/9vjpuaEZBV

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 26, 2024

In activating Cook the Cowboys are hoping to get something productive from their running game. It is currently the worst in the NFL, and they have got less than nothing out of cooked veteran Ezekiel Elliot. Elliot is averaging just three yards per carry and has a single touchdown in six games. Rico Dowdle has started five of six games for Dallas and is averaging 4.2 yards per carry. His production has left plenty to be desired as well however.

Related: 5 Christian Darrisaw Injury Replacements for the Minnesota Vikings

Dalvin Cook played in 15 games last year for the New York Jets. He averaged just 3.2 yards per carry and was ultimately released. Signed by the Baltimore Ravens heading into the postseason, he carried the ball eight times against the Houston Texans. It’s beyond possible that Cook is, coincidentally, cooked too. The Cowboys have no other options though, so they’ll try to catch lightning in a bottle.

Dalvin Cook's longest run with the #Jets: 14 yards

Dalvin Cook after 1 carry with the #Ravens: 19 yardspic.twitter.com/s1V7RXtmQ4

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 21, 2024

Related: Uh Oh… Vikings WR Jordan Addison Appears Unhappy

This offseason there was plenty of reason to believe that Dallas could be in play for free agent Derrick Henry. At 30 years old though, he didn’t get Jerry Jones and company to pull the trigger. That’s unfortunate for America’s Team because Henry has been the best running back in football this season.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Finally Activate TJ Hockenson

If Dallas had signed Henry then Cook would have never been a consideration. That’s all an alternate reality though, so the Cowboys instead are hoping their water has fountain of youth properties.

Dalvin Cook set to visit Dallas Cowboys

Earlier this offseason, the Cowboys signed Eric Kendricks. You might remember, he went to a pro bowl and made an NFL All-Pro team in Minnesota. Last week, the Vikings traded Andrew Booth Jr to Dallas, too.

Then on Monday, Tom Pelissero (NFL Network) reports that 29-year-old former Viking, Dalvin Cook, is set to visit the Cowboys now. If signed, he’d become the latest Mike Zimmer era player to join their former coach in Dallas.

The #Cowboys might not be done: Sources say 4x Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook is flying to Dallas tonight for a visit.

Unlike a year ago, when he was rehabbing from shoulder surgery, Cook has hit the weights all offseason and says he feels the best he has in years. pic.twitter.com/jT9Zsf91qB

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 26, 2024

The Minnesota Vikings picked Dalvin Cook 41st overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. Mike Zimmer and former general manager Rick Spielman were riding high, back then. Cook ran for over 5,000 yards and 43 touchdowns in four seasons, between 2019 and 2022. He also caught 170 passes for 1,399 receiving yards, during that span.

Does the former Minnesota Vikings RB have anything left to give the Cowboys?

That didn’t stop general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah from letting the former Florida State phenom walk in free agency last offseason, where he signed a bloated contract with the New York Jets that ended up being a disaster (67 total carries, 214 yards, 0 TD). He was released on January 2nd, allowing him to be a playoff roster addition for the Baltimore Ravens.

Dalvin Cook finished the 2023 postseason with 67 attempts. He ran for just 244 yards (3.19 YPC) with those opportunities and his carries dwindled as the Ravens playoff run wore on. But there’s no doubt he still looks in shape.

Related: Vikings Place Dalton Risner on IR, Raising More Questions Before Cut Day

And while Zim may not be the head coach in Dallas, he is still in the building. We all know how much Mike liked to ride Dalvin in Minnesota. If the Cowboys sign Cook, we all know what Mike Zimmer’s suggested fix will be, if Mike McCarthy’s offense ever stalls during the upcoming season.

Dalvin Cook and New York Jets Parting Ways

According to Tom Pelissero (NFL Network), who got his information from Cook’s agent, Dalvin wants to jump on the bandwagon of a playoff team so he can make a run at a Super Bowl.

Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook and the #Jets have mutually agreed to part ways, allowing Cook the opportunity to play for a playoff team, per his agency @LAASportsEnt.

The dynamic playmaker has fresh legs after minimal usage in NY and can now compete for a Super Bowl. pic.twitter.com/fhIjZo5tNw

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 2, 2024

Related: Win or Lose, Vikings Can Land Top-10 Draft Pick

To be honest, both Dalvin Cook and the Vikings would have been better off this season had they found a way to stay together. Cook got $7 million from the Jets, a number Minnesota probably wasn’t going to give him.

But knowing what we know now, they probably would’ve been better off paying him and letting Mattison walk. That’s not how things unfolded, though. Now, the Vikings are unlikely to make the playoffs and Cook is trying to find his third team in less than 12 months.

The #Vikings and four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook are parting ways, per source.

One of the NFL’s most dynamic playmakers, Cook is coming off a fourth straight 1,000-yard season and has 52 career TDs. Now he’ll be a free agent at age 27 and will have multiple suitors. pic.twitter.com/kJUIi9XP6O

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) June 8, 2023

Cook met with Vikings general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah last week but whatever was discussed that day was not enough to get Dalvin back into purple and gold.

According to Kevin Seifert (ESPN), the Vikings will continue to explore trade avenues for Cook Thursday, but if a deal can’t be reached, they will let him go on Friday.

The Vikings are expected to try to trade Cook one more time on Thursday, and if they are unable to, they plan to process his release Friday, according to a source. Either way, this will bring an end to Cook’s six-year tenure in Minnesota.

Kevin Seifert (ESPN)

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Mackey & Judd listener becomes Dalvin Cook whistleblower…

It isn’t uncommon for news to break out of SKOR North’s “MN Sports with Mackey & Judd” podcast, especially when local insider, Darren “Doogie” Wolfson joins the show for bi-weekly mini scoop sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

But this time, the scoop came from a Mackey & Judd listener, who was claiming he saw Dalvin Cook, his agent Zach Hiller and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah having lunch together at legendary Manny’s Steakhouse in Minneapolis, last Wednesday. Doogie’s reporter instincts kicked in; he sent a text (likely to Hiller) and, moments later, got a reply confirming said lunch meeting.

The Manny’s meeting is is broached by Declan Goff, the Mackey & Judd executive producer, at the 08:22 mark of the below video and the important parts are transcribed underneath that.

DEX:“We got a nice note from a listener last Wednesday [who says] he saw Dalvin Cook, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Zach Hiller and another person he did not recognize enjoying a nice little lunch at Manny’s last Wednesday, maybe talking the future, maybe talking, to your point, maybe bringing him back.”

DOOGIE: “I’m sending a text as you speak Declan to verify if said lunch and happened at Manny let’s see if someone gets back to me during the course of this conversation. Zach Hiller is Dalvin [Cook’s] agent for those who don’t know. Zach represents a few players, including former Gopher Mo Ibraham. He’s got JK Dobbins, running back with Baltimore. But Zach isn’t, you know, Athletes First or Creative Arts Agency where he’s got hundreds of clients. Drew Rosenhouse [is another huge agent example], right? [With] Zach, it’s more an intimate. You know, one-on-one type relationship. Yes, in theory, Zach could easily have been in town last week. There was some scuttlebutt that Dalvin has been in town at different points [too]. Now, he’s also been in Florida but he hasn’t exclusively been in Florida. So Declan, I am checking on that…”

[Moments Later…]

DOOGIE: “Here’s the update, you ready? Yes, Declan what you just described — I don’t know if it was specifically Manny’s but I’ll trust the person who [sent that note]. Declan, good speculation initially that we could then follow up on! Thank you to that person for helping us!”

Minnesota Sports w/Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

We do not know what Dalvin Cook and his agent were talking to Kwesi about, during their meeting. Maybe Hiller is helping to broker a deal with another team, like Doogie Za’Darius Smith’s new agent did for him, when he was traded to the Browns earlier this offseason.

But it’s very possible they were talking about what a restructured contract might look like too. And, clearly, Dalvin Cook has been in and out of Minnesota this summer, not just training in Miami like previously thought. Maybe we’ll get a few more details now that this initial news has dropped.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The rollercoaster offseason of Dalvin Cook rumors has had some wild swings. As recent as last week, it was believed the Vikings were most likely to release him after realizing they weren’t going to get anything worth value in a trade. But with less than 12 hours remaining until D(alvin Cook)-Day, the tide seems to be changing.

Dalvin Cook trade incoming?

According to Bobby Shouse Jr, whose tweets have been featured at Bleacher Report, Fansided, Yahoo Sports and Sportsnaut, multiple teams are interested in trading for Dalvin Cook. The teams include the Dolphins and one other AFC East teams (not the Bills), among others.

Per source, Dalvin Cook to the #Dolphins is very much still alive. Cook has remained consistent that the Dolphins are his preferred destination and the Dolphins will have first priority to make a deal if they decide to do so.

I’ve also been told there are more teams showing…

— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) May 31, 2023

As I mentioned earlier today, Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) reported this morning on “Get UP” that the Vikings + Dalvin Cook offseason drama is expected to end soon and that a trade is now more likely to happen than his straight up release.

Obviously, if the Vikings can find a trade partner who will take on most of Cook’s salary ($9 million), and also get a mid to late round draft pick (or two) in the process, that’s more ideal than letting him go for the cap relief alone.

Sounds like we’ll finally find out what Cook’s worth is soon enough.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Cook, as has already been reported, is unwilling to agree to such things. Thus, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been shopping him on the trade market trying to find a team who likes Dalvin enough to take on a large chunk of his 2023 salary. So far, the Vikings GM has had no such luck and all signs point to the Vikings cutting Dalvin after June 1.

Could Dalvin Cook be having a change of heart?

But, not so fast. On Thursday’s episode of Mackey & Judd (SKOR North), Darren “Doogie” Wolfson reported that a pretty reliable source thinks Dalvin Cook may be having 2nd thoughts about refusing a pay cut to leave Minnesota for greener pastures…

“I had somebody in the know, right, somebody I trust enough, although I haven’t got deep enough quite yet, but this person told me to check on the idea that Dalvin is having a change of heart [on taking a pay cut with the Vikings] and it’s possible — you look at the landscape of the league like who really needs a running back — you look at Austin Eckler, he reworked his deal this week to remain a charger. Could something comparable happen where the possibility exists that Dalvin Cook is in purple — Vikings purple not Ravens purple or some other purple — Vikings purple in 2023.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

Wolfson has said for months that he believes Dalvin Cook will play somewhere other than Minnesota in 2023-24 and, until he hears differently from someone in Dalvin’s camp, reiterated that belief on Thursday. But Doogie seems to trust the source that is feeding him this information and went on to talk about how intrigued he is by what they told him.

“I’m just saying it’s something I need to dig a little bit deeper into but the possibility exists that Dalvin will rework his deal, take some sort of cut, realize that there really isn’t another opportunity out there Miami drafted a running back relatively high. Like, who really truly needs a running back? Maybe Chicago? You can make a case for a few teams, right, and Dalvin, I think, would help a lot of teams. But can he make more money taking a cut [in Minnesota], allah Harrison Smith, versus testing the market. So just the idea that maybe, just maybe, Dalvin is here in 2023. So that’s a pretty intriguing possibility.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

If you’re a Dalvin Cook superfan, I wouldn’t put your #4 jersey back on just yet. But Wolfson’s scoop today is the most positive development, for those hoping for Cook’s return.

Alexander Mattison would not be happy about Dalvin Cook returning

There’s one person, however, that the above report might piss off. That’s Dalvin Cook’s backfield teammate, Alexander Mattison. According to Doogie, Mattison was told by Vikings brass, when he re-signed earlier this offseason, that there was “a strong understanding” Cook would not be returning next season.

Mattison (No. 2 on his jersey and the current Vikings depth chart) met with media recently and wouldn’t admit that he wants Cook to move on, but he or someone close to him certainly is telling Wolfson that.

“Judd, you tried hard in your conversation with Mattison on Tuesday, trying to pry some information out of Alexander. I know Alexander wanted to say a lot more than he did. That was very calculated. He’s a very smart guy. He knew the questions were coming, he was going to be very, very guarded. I’m just telling you, deep down, Alexander’s got a lot more to say there on Dalvin, who is one of his best friends, no denying that. But Alexander is also waiting to cherish this opportunity. A career low usage last year, all that. Like, he’s ready to have a much bigger role here in 2023.”

“Let me make this very clear, when Mattison decided to re-sign here, it was with the strong understanding, not written guarantee, but strong understanding that Dalvin Cook was moving on.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

Oh boy… stay tuned!

Here is the full episode of Mackey & Judd today, with Darren Wolfson. The Dalvin Cook talk begins at the 03:15 mark and continues at the 14:35 mark.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

What’s next for Dalvin Cook?

Cook will not be at voluntary team activities next week and it’s HIGHLY unlikely he plays another game in a Vikings uniform. But, as of Friday, he’s still on the roster. Previous reports expected Dalvin to be traded to the Miami Dolphins for a 5th round pick.

But on Friday’s 10 AM CT SportsCenter, Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) reported that Minnesota’s most likely move is to release their 4x pro-bowler once the calendar flips to June. And only one team is mentioned as a possible landing spot. You guessed it: Miami. Apparently, the Vikings “want to do right by Dalvin Cook” whether that means trade, release or restructure. Waiting until June 1 to cut Cook would net $3.1 million in additional 2023 cap relief ($9M) vs doing it before June 1 ($5.9M).

Seems the #Vikings will most likely cut Dalvin Cook (post June 1). pic.twitter.com/H3ODlMMrAI

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) May 19, 2023

“So, his future is up in the air and the Vikings can receive $9 million against the cap if they release him after June 1. I’m told they want to do right by him, whether it’s a trade, release or bringing him back on a re-worked salary. But this is a guy they do value and they don’t want to cut bait without some sort of understanding between the player and team.

Now I’m told he is training in Miami right now. He is cleared, coming off that torn labrum surgery, to do some explosive work and some running around so he is doing that now. Teams I talked to do expect him to eventually be released, based on the way this has all shaked out. And this is guy who is from Miami so he could have some interest in playing for the Dolphins. Miami has been linked to [the Vikings] as potential trade option for Cook a few months ago so it could be a team to watch.”

Jeremy Fowler – SportsCenter – Friday 10 AM CT Hour (ESPN)

Let’s read between the lines, here. Cook isn’t taking a paycut in Minnesota. He’s said as much. Now, it seems the Vikings do have some interest in Cook, from other teams, but those suiters are limited. And any trade offers Kwesi might actually have in-hand do not excite him.

So unless a team ups the ante before June 1, the Vikings appear ready and willing to cut Dalvin Cook. A clean release would allow them to save as much cap space as possible, while also giving Dalvin an opportunity to sign with whichever team fits him best. That’s what Fowler means when he says the Vikings “want to do right by Dalvin Cook”.

Hopefully, Kwesi & Co do receive that surprise offer because losing Dalvin Cook for nothing but cap space relief would be the most disappointing ending possible for this long, drawn-out offseason saga surrounding Dalvin Cook.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Danielle Hunter wants a new contract

Of course, this isn’t the first offseason that Hunter has threatened to hold out for a new contract. But this time around, the 28-year-old pass rusher wants a new deal because his current contract calls for just $5 million in base salary this season.

And according to Darren Wolfson (SKOR North, KSTP) on the Mackey & Judd Podcast Thursday, it sounds like Hunter will get the new deal he is coveting. In the same breath, Doogie reiterates that Dalvin Cook is as good as gone. He declares Za’Darius Smith as a wildcard.

“I still think the Vikings end up ultimately giving Danielle some sort of raise. I see Danielle Hunter here in 2023. I continue to not see Dalvin Cook here in 2023. Za’Darius [Smith], I would say that’s the one where there is some uncertainty. I think the Vikings would love to find a way to have Za’Darius on this roster in 2023 so I think there are still some things to figure out on that front. But I do think Dalvin ends up elsewhere, I think Danielle Hunter is here.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey and Judd

New deal would make sense for Minnesota Vikings too

Even though Hunter is set to make just $5 million in cash this season, his current contract calls for him to count $12.3 million against the cap. For that reason, a contract extension makes a lot of sense for both sides.

Danielle still has plenty of really good play left in him and should be a better player under Brian Flores, who has expressed excitement to coach Hunter. A new contract will get him the money he wants, lock in a really good pass rusher for a few seasons and lower his cap number for 2023. Seems like a win all around.

Here is the full episode of Thursday’s Mackey & Judd. Wolfson talks Hunter, Cook and Z. Smith at the 09:35 mark.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Is Dalvin Cook already traded?

That doesn’t mean, however, that an under-the-table trade hasn’t been agreed to… at least in principle. And on Sunday, Pioneer Press columnist Charley “Shooter” Walters, suggested just that. The highly paid, soon-to-be 28-year-old running back, will be dealt to his hometown Miami Dolphins, in return for a future 5th round pick. The deal, according to Shooter, could be completed anytime.

—The Dalvin Cook trade, probably to his hometown Miami Dolphins, could occur anytime, even this summer. The best the Vikings can expect for Cook, who turns 28 just before the season, is a fifth-round draft pick.

The problem for the Vikings is Cook’s $11 million salary for next season. The Dolphins also figure he isn’t worth that much, so why give up much when they know the Vikings aren’t going to pay him that much. If a trade can’t work, the Vikings might just have to release Cook.

Charley Walters – Pioneer Press

When rumors become reality

For months, the rumors on social media have suggested that Dalvin Cook might already be traded. Cook’s own agent has done nothing but fuel the rumors of Cook’s departure with social media posts and his own podcast appearances.

Trusted insiders, like Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (SKOR North, KSTP), haven’t gone quite that far. But Doogie has reiterated on an every episode basis (at least twice per week), during his Mackey & Judd Podcast (SKOR North) appearances going back weeks, just how much he expects Dalvin and the Vikings to part ways at some point this offseason.

But Shooter naming the team and compensation takes the Cook chatter to a completely different level. There is no doubt that Dalvin will be dealt this offseason. The only question is “when”.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan