The Minnesota Vikings have decided to release running back- Dalvin Cook Friday if they can’t trade him before then sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Vikings are expected to try to trade four-time Pro-Bowl RB Dalvin Cook one more time today and if they are unable to, they would plan to process his official release Friday, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 8, 2023
Vikings plan to release RB Dalvin Cook. (via @tompelissero) pic.twitter.com/92TRIP7wkM
— NFL (@NFL) June 8, 2023
The transaction, which could become official Friday, will clear $9 million of cap space this year and $12.5 million in 2024 for the Vikings. Cook (now 27 years old) was drafted in the second round of the 2017 draft by the Vikings and competed for six seasons on the team’s roster. Cook had 1,173 rushing yards in 264 attempts and eight touchdowns in his 17 starts last season and only four fumbles. Cook also had 39 receptions for 295 yards to go along with two receiving touchdowns on the season. In his six seasons in the NFL and with the Vikings, Cook has totaled 5,993 rushing yards on 1,282 attempts and 1,794 receiving yards on 221 receptions, with a total of 52 touchdowns in both rushing and receiving. Cook signed a 5-year, $63 million contract extension with the Vikings in 2020 but with the release, the Vikings will have to pay $5.1 million in dead money due to the extension’s signing bonus. The Vikings held their final organized team session today in Eagan, Minnesota. The Vikings will hold their mandatory minicamp on June 13th and 14th.
Cook certainly added his name to the Vikings’ history books, as he is third all-time in rushing, fifth in attempts, and fourth in touchdowns for the franchise. The release comes as no surprise as Cook has not been present for the team’s voluntary offseason workouts, which added plenty of fuel to the fire of the rumors that the Vikings and Cook were looking to part ways, especially after the team signed Cook’s backup- Alexander Mattison to a $7 million two-year deal. Just last month, Vikings Head Coach- Kevin O’Connell had this to say following Mattison’s contract signing, “It’s been really good to see Alex Mattison take those kinds of reps and really show that three-down ownership that he’s been capable of for a long time.” The Vikings ranked 26th in the NFL in rushing yards per attempt and tied for 27th in rushing yards per game last season.
Mike McDaniel's response to the Dalvin Cook rumors has everyone confused 😅
(via NFL Live) pic.twitter.com/xdQuzA8IXG
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) June 8, 2023
When Cook does become a free agent, he will likely have several teams chomping at the bit to add the Pro Bowl Running Back to their roster. The Miami Dolphins are currently leading in the sweepstakes to land Cook and for good reason after the hint that Cook dropped via. his social media following the news of his release. The post to his Instagram story was a picture of him dancing in Miami Dolphin’s Hard Rock Stadium.
Dalvin Cook’s IG story is him in Miami 👀 pic.twitter.com/yB2ZBb2Nxo
— PFF (@PFF) June 8, 2023
Do you think the Vikings made a mistake in releasing Cook, and what team do you think signs the running back? Let us know in the comments below.
