Minnesota Vikings: 3 Players to consider not committing to long term

1. Dalvin Cook

There is no question that, when Dalvin Cook is healthy, he is one of the top running backs in the entire NFL. In 2019, he proved that to be the case week-in and week-out when he was able to take the field and that in return earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl this weekend for the first time in his career.

In 14 appearances for the purple and gold, Cook wrapped up his third season in the NFL and with the Vikings by grabbing a career-high rushing total of 1,135 yards, along with a career-best 13 rushing touchdowns. With an average of 4.5 yards per rush, Cook also hauled in a career-high 63 receptions through the air for a total of 519 yards.

Among other running backs in the league, Cook ranked 10th in the league in total rushing yards, while ranking eighth in carries and fourth in rushing touchdowns.

The biggest thing when it comes to the young running back is that he has yet to put together a full season where he is healthy for the entire regular season, and Cook will already be heading into his fourth year in the NFL in 2020.

That raises the question of whether or not Minnesota should want to commit to the running back long term and if the Vikings ultimately want to end up making him one of the top-paid running backs in the league, which is something Cook and his agent will likely desire either this offseason or for sure by this time a year from now.

Cook could be a holdout candidate going into the 2020 campaign if he isn’t extended before then by Minnesota, as he is entering the final year of his rookie contract this coming year.

With the Vikings needing to make some big decisions surrounding the team and their player personnel moving forward, maybe they don’t view Cook as a huge priority and that could lead to the organization questioning whether or not it wants to commit to him and his soon-to-be expensive contract both in 2020 and beyond.