Minnesota Vikings potentially cutting Dalvin Cook, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Minnesota Vikings will allegedly cut loose running back Dalvin Cook on Friday. Adam Schefter of ESPN says there is still a potential that the Vikings deal Cook before Friday.
Before the 2023 season, Cook, at 28 years old, accumulated approximately 6,000 rushing yards in six seasons with the Vikings. He recorded four consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 rushing yards and earned Pro Bowl selections in each of the past four seasons. Cook ranks fourth in rushing yards among all running backs since being drafted by the Vikings in 2017.
Cook continued to be a successful running back, but his salary cap hit was going to increase. Only $2 million of Cook’s 2023 pay was guaranteed by the five-year, $63 million deal he signed in 2020. If he had remained on the roster, his $14.1 million salary would have been deducted from the cap. According to Over The Cap, a post-June 1 designation also save the Vikings $9 million in cap relief.
Cook also has a long history of injuries.
Cook had injury concerns throughout his career, missing at least three games in alternating seasons. He suffered an ACL injury in his debut season and faced multiple shoulder issues. However, he managed to play all games in the 2022 season for the first time in his career.
Cook had shoulder surgery in February, but doctors anticipate that he will be ready for the 2023 season.
Cook joins the list of released veteran running backs
Ezekiel Elliott, the Dallas Cowboys’ 2016 No. 4 overall pick, and Leonard Fournette, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2017 first-round pick, were released. Both players were effective veterans but started to decline, leading their teams to seek younger, more cost-effective replacements. The Cowboys will focus on Tony Pollard, while the Buccaneers have high hopes for 2022 third-round pick Rachaad White.
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