Dalvin Cook contract: What kind of extension should Vikings RB expect?
What could the Dalvin Cook contract extension with the Vikings look like?
What many thought was an inevitable outcome has officially gotten underway for the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota’s star running back Dalvin Cook will no longer participate in any team-related activities until he gets a contract extension from the franchise.
On Monday, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter broke the news that many Vikings fans had feared was coming in that Cook will now holdout from team activities while seeking a new deal ahead of the 2020 NFL season.
Schefter noted that Cook, who is on the last year of his rookie deal while set to make about $1.3 million this season, is seeking a reasonable deal based on the running back’s performance that has resulted in his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2019.
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The 24-year-old, who is entering his fourth season in the NFL after being drafted by Minnesota in the second round of the 2017 Draft, put together a dominant campaign a year ago while emerging as a young centerpiece to the Vikings offensive gameplan that has growingly become dedicated to the run game.
In 2019, Cook finished the year appearing in a career-high 14 regular-season games, tallying 250 carries for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns, which is tied for the most rushing touchdowns in a season in franchise history. Cook also finished the season with a total of 53 catches for 519 yards through the air out of the backfield.
With Cook and the Vikings holding high hopes for the running back in year four, the two sides now will have to first come to terms on a deal for that to ultimately take place. And Minnesota has a decision to make as far as if it is indeed dedicated to Cook in the long-term.
Expectations vs. reality for Dalvin Cook
This offseason, the Vikings gave quarterback Kirk Cousins a large extension that will result in him making about $150 million over the next five seasons. Although Cook might not get the same size deal such as that, he is on the search for a larger compensation in 2020 and beyond.
With Cook searching for an extension on his contract, what type of deal and figure mark could we expect him to get from the Vikings or another team down the road? Let’s compare it to some other players at his position.
Going into contract extension talks, Cook will likely try and get a salary to reflect what the likes of Ezekiel Elliott, Christian McCaffrey, Le’Veon Bell and others have received in the past. That would mean Cook could be asking for a figure somewhere around the $13-$15 million range annually, which would make him only one of five running backs in the NFL to be paid that much.
Minnesota, on the other hand, is likely not willing (at least right now) to pay Cook that much in an extension. Especially given the salary cap issues the team has had in the past year-plus.
ESPN’s Vikings reporter Courtney Cronin reported the Vikings might try and talk Cook into a deal between the $8-$10 million per season range.
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Either way, Cook is going to hold out of offseason activities until he gets a new deal either in Minnesota or elsewhere as he continues to move along in his NFL career. Now the Vikings have the decision to make as far as if they are willing to put their money where their mouth is with their Pro Bowl running back before the 2020 season begins.