Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook (20) signals an incomplete pass after breaking one up intended for a Green Bay Packers wide receiver in the third quarter at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Packers win 44-31. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has done an excellent job of turning around the careers of veteran corners, and a huge example of a turn-around from a CB while Zimmer was the Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator is Terence Newman. It will be interesting to see if Zimmer can have the same effect on the defensive backs in Minnesota, as the Vikings have one of the NFL’s worst secondaries. Aside from youngsters Harrison Smith and Xavier Rhodes, there simply isn’t much talent on the team’s roster, which leads many to believe that Rick Spielman will aggressively look to upgrade the cornerback position in free agency this year.
27-year-old veteran Chris Cook is coming off of a horrific 2013 season, and he’s an impending free agent with no career interceptions in four seasons and no seasons with over five passes defended. To make things worse, he was also burned frequently last season (he gave up far too many touchdown passes) and has injury flags. Cook has talent, but he hasn’t done a good job at all of showing that talent during his career. However, he’s hoping to stay with the Vikings so that Zimmer can help him turn his career around.
Cook told the St. Paul Pioneer Press’s Chris Tomasson that he would “love” to re-sign with the Vikes, “If they want me to come back, I would love to come back. But ultimately it’s not my decision. So I’m just waiting and working out. … I would be more than happy to come back. I really enjoyed the guys I played with.”
But do the Vikings feel the same way? I highly doubt it, especially considering how poor he was last season. He’ll get picked up somewhere as a “reclamation project” signing, but I wouldn’t give Cook anything more than a one-year deal.