Minnesota Vikings originate Educated Bowl working relief Dalvin Cook

The Minnesota Vikings formally launched oldschool working relief Dalvin Cook on Friday, per quite a bit of reports.

Appropriate cherish that, Cook’s six-one year tenure in Minnesota has reach to a shut after no late substitute offer came by.

The Miami Dolphons and the Denver Broncos private reportedly emerged as early skill suitors for Cook.

Cook has performed his complete reputable profession with the Vikings up so a long way. He used to be selected by Minnesota within the 2d round (41st total) of the 2017 NFL Draft out of FSU. He signed a 5-one year extension with Minnesota forward of the 2020 season under susceptible overall supervisor Rick Spielman. That deal known as for Cook to construct $11 million in 2023, with a $14.1 million wage cap quantity. The Vikings ranked No. 3 in cap commitment to the working relief space with Cook’s numbers calm on their books. 

Cook purchased 74% of the Vikings’ carries final season, rushed for 1,173 yards — the sixth-most within the league — and eight touchdowns at some stage within the 2022-23 campaign. He produced his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2022 and didn’t omit a single recreation for the first time in his profession.

What’s extra, two of the six longest runs of his profession came final season: a fifty three-yard rating in Week 6 and an 81-yard rating in Week 10 whereby Cook recorded a high breeze of 21.68 mph, the seventh-fastest breeze for any ball carrier in 2022, per Subsequent Gen Stats. 

On the choice hand, Cook also led the NFL with 62 carries that either misplaced or did no longer map a yard. That acknowledged, the four-time Educated Bowler has rushed for additional yards (5,993) than any Vikings runners other than Adrian Peterson (11,747) and Robert Smith (6,818).

Cook, who turns 28 in August, faces an uphill battle next season no subject where he finally ends up. In 2022, completely three working backs (Latavius Murray, Raheem Mostert and Derrick Henry) rushed for additional than 500 yards after turning 28.

The Vikings re-signed backup working relief Alexander Mattison, 24, in March to a contract that ensures him $6.35 million over the next two seasons. Quickly after signing his recent contract, Mattison acknowledged that he returned to Minnesota on anecdote of of an “idea how it be all laid out and the map in which it be all going to determine,” per ESPN.

Mattison rushed for 283 yards and 5 scores final season with out a single start. All 5 of his 20-plus-raise games private reach in games Cook either uncared for or exited early. He has averaged 1.91 yards per bustle after contact — a small bit greater than Cook’s mark of 1.77 all around the last four seasons — but completely one in every of his 404 profession carries has gone beyond 24 yards.

Mattison’s cap numbers over the next two seasons are $2.4 million and $4.6 million, respectively. 

Ty Chandler, a 2022 fifth-round draft pick who spent most of the season on injured reserve, and Educated Bowl kickoff returner Kene Nwangwu currently accompany Mattison on the Vikings’ depth chart.

“Between Kene and Ty, there already looks to be a in actual fact good competitors brewing there,” coach Kevin O’Connell these days acknowledged, “on anecdote of every of those guys are having in actual fact robust springs and extra or much less showing their versatility.”

DeWayne McBride, a seventh-round draft settle from UAB who led the nation in speeding at some stage within the 2022 college season, is also within the combine. He has yet to take half in spring drills whereas rehabilitating a minor hamstring wreck, however.

The Vikings done final season with a 13-4 anecdote and a wild-card round postseason exit.