Hello Skoloholics! Today, we continue our “Where do we go from here?” series, and we take a look at Dalvin Cook, the 27-year old superstar Vikings running back. As most of you know, I’m a huge fan of Dalvin Cook. I loved him coming out of college, and was stoked when we drafted him. Then, I had a chance to hear him speak earlier this year at a Cross Training Banquet in Bismarck, and I came away from that event with an even deeper respect for Cook than I already had. That being said, football is a business, and sometimes you have to make decisions that you don’t want to make. Will Dalvin Cook be a casualty this off-season? Let’s take a look.
Dalvin Cook’s Current Contract
We’ll use Spotrac to review Dalvin’s current contract. Dalvin Cook signed a 5-year, $63 million contract extension with the Vikings in September 2020. He is set to earn a 2023 base salary of $10.4 million with a total cap hit of ~ $14.1 million. The cap hit increased to $15.6 million in 2024, then decreases slightly to $13.5 million for 2025, the final year of the contract. There is currently slightly more than $6.2 million in dead cap, which is a signing bonus prorated at $3.1 million in 2023 and another $3.1 million in 2024. Dalvin Cook will be 30 years old when his current contract expires in 2025.
NFL Running Back Contracts
Looking at running back salaries in the NFL, courtesy of overthecap, we see that Dalvin Cook is set to be the league’s sixth-highest paid running back in 2023*. In 2024, Dalvin is set to be the fourth-highest paid running back in the NFL*. Using AAV of the entire contract, which is far less relevant with running back contracts than it is with QB contracts, Dalvin is the fourth-highest paid running back in the league.
*this obviously does not include contracts that have yet to be signed
2023 Cap Hits-Running Backs
| Player | Team | Cap Number |
|---|---|---|
| Aaron Jones | Packers | $20,013,000 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | Cowboys | $16,720,000 |
| Derrick Henry | Titans | $16,367,647 |
| Alvin Kamara | Saints | $16,034,176 |
| Nick Chubb | Browns | $14,850,000 |
| Dalvin Cook | Vikings | $14,101,272 |
| Joe Mixon | Bengals | $12,791,176 |
| Christian McCaffrey | 49ers | $12,000,000 |
| James Conner | Cardinals | $10,445,000 |
| Leonard Fournette | Buccaneers | $8,470,588 |
| Austin Ekeler | Chargers | $7,750,000 |
Options
Keep Dalvin Cook at his current contract.
The Vikings could choose to keep Dalvin Cook and allow him to play out his current contract. If they feel that Cook is still a top running back, that his contract is fair, and are afraid that they will see a massive drop off in production without him, then they could just let him play out the contract.
Sign Dalvin Cook to an Extension
Similarly, if they want Dalvin to stay, they could explore signing him to an extension to keep him while simultaneously reducing his cap hit. How much can they shave off the cap? I don’t think there’s a ton of wiggle room there, and I don’t see any team wanting to sign a long-term deal with a running back that keeps them under contract into their 30s. I find this option to be the least likely.
Release Dalvin Cook
The Vikings could choose to release Dalvin Cook. Releasing Cook prior to 6/1 would generate $7.9 million in cap space after the $6.2 million dead cap hit in 2023. If they release Cook with a post 6/1 designation, then they would save $11 million in 2023, as $3.1 million of the dead cap would be allocated to 2023, and another $3.1 million would be applied to 2024.
Trade Dalvin Cook
As we know, the Vikings need draft picks. If a team is interested in Dalvin Cook, the Vikings could accumulate some of those sorely needed draft picks via a trade. The same cap savings and dead cap from the release scenario would apply, but the Vikings would also add draft picks. Most analysts agree that Dalvin is easily a top 10 running back. Therefore, a running back needy team like Baltimore or Denver could offer something for Dalvin. I’m sure there are other teams out there who would have some interest.
What will the Vikings do with Dalvin Cook?
- Trade Dalvin Cook (56%, 18 Votes)
- Keep him on his current contract (19%, 6 Votes)
- Release Dalvin Cook (19%, 6 Votes)
- Keep him and sign him to an extension (6%, 2 Votes)
Total Voters: 32
Loading ...Summary
I hate watching my favorite players leave, but it’s the business side of the NFL, and something a team had better be willing to do if they want to be competitive. I’m all for any decision that makes the Vikings a better team. That being said, if Dalvin Cook has played his last down in purple, it’ll make me a little sad. I have a ton of respect for the man, for everything he overcame to reach the pinnacle of success at his profession, and for using his success to give back and help others who are struggling in the same streets he escaped. I have a feeling we’re gonna see a lot of our favorite guys leave this off-season, so we might as well accept it. SKOL!!!!!
What will the Vikings do with Dalvin Cook?
Total Voters: 32
I would love to see us get a 4th or 5th for him…..
I am not sure that will happen though
I think the Vikings keep Cook as is.
I would trade, but the question is what will the Vikings do.
Trade him, and honestly JJ also.
Team needs to do a complete rebuild.
Would it be possible to have two surveys? One worded as it is now and one asking, “What would YOU do?” Much more engaging.
Try and trade for a third day pick, otherwise it’s a mean business, cut him.
I want to see what Wigwam can do
Agreed. Again, hes a good dude and a good person but he’s not worth what he is being paid and if we are just going to run our RBs up the middle for – or 0 gain we can do that on cheap with someone else.
“don’t pay running backs”