The Minnesota Vikings Officially released veteran running back Chef Dalvin on Friday, according to multiple reports.
Just like that, Cook’s six-year term in Minnesota ended after no late commercial offer passed.
The Miami Dolphins and Dancer broncos Have supposedly emerging as potential suitors for Cooking.
Cook has played his entire professional career with the Vikings up to this point. He was selected by Minnesota in the second round (41st overall) of 2017 NFL draft out FSU. He signed a five-year extension with Minnesota ahead of the 2020 season under former general manager Rick Spielman. That deal calls for Cook to earn $11 million by 2023, with a salary cap of $14.1 million. The Vikings ranked 3rd in terms of commitment limit in the run-back position with Cook’s number still on their books.
Cook received 74% of the “executions” last season, dashing to 1,173 yards – sixth most in the league – and eight touchdowns. He made it his fourth straight season at 1,000 yards in 2022 and for the first time in his career didn’t miss a game.
Furthermore, two of the six longest runs of his career came last season: a 53-yard score in Week 6 and an 81-yard score in Week 10, in which Cook recorded a top speed of 21, 68 mph, the seventh fastest for any ball carrier in 2022, according to the Next Generation Index.
However, Cook also leads the NFL with 62 losses or no yard wins. The four-time professional pitcher dashed more yards (5,993) than any “runner” except Adrian Peterson (11,747) and Robert Smith (6,818).
Cook, who will turn 28 in August, will face an uphill battle next season no matter where he ends up. In 2022, only three backrunners aged 28 and over (Latavius Murray, Raheem Mostert And Derrick Henry) dashed more than 500 yards.
The “re-signed backup” is running again Alexander Mattison, 24, in March with a contract guaranteeing him $6.35 million over the next two seasons. Shortly after signing a new contract, Mattison said he returned to Minnesota because he “understands how things are arranged and how things are going to be,” per ESPN.
Mattison dashed 283 yards and scored five points last season without a start. All five of his 20+ carry-over games came in games Cook missed or was eliminated early on. He has averaged 1.91 yards per dash after contact – slightly better than Cook’s 1.77 over the past four seasons – but only one of 404 attempts in his career It’s over 24 yards.
Mattison’s limited numbers for the next two seasons are $2.4 million and $4.6 million, respectively.
Ty Chandlera 2022 fifth-round substitute who spent most of the season on the bench injured and was a returning player to the Pro Bowl warm-up Kene Nwangwu currently accompanies Mattison on the “depth chart”.
Coach Kevin O’Connell recently said: “Between Kene and Ty, there seems to be a really nice rivalry there, because both of those guys are having really solid springs and demonstrate their flexibility.”
DeWayne McBridea seventh round draft pick from UAB who led the nation in rush numbers during the college season in 2022, was also among them. However, he is yet to participate in spring drills while recovering from a minor hamstring injury.
The Vikings finished last season with a 13-4 record and were knocked out after the season in the knockout stages.
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