Fansided

Dalvin Cook knows the Vikings pretty much have to pay him

By Brad Berreman

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 05: Dalvin Cook #33 of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Dalvin Cook is in line for a new contract, and he knows the Minnesota Vikings have to pay him.

Dalvin Cook had a breakout season in 2019, as he ran for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 53 catches for 519 yards. He’s also entering the final year of his rookie contract, and talks with the Minnesota Vikings about a contract extension appear to be starting.

The Vikings found an offensive formula that worked last year with Gary Kubiak as an offensive assistant. That plan centered on Cook, and allowed Kirk Cousins to operate as a lower-volume passer as the running game opened up play-action.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanksi left to become head coach of the Cleveland Brown, and Kubiak took the title of offensive coordinator. So the Vikings’ offense in 2020 will look very similar to the 2019 version, albeit without wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Cook spoke to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press this week, and his comments confirm where he sees himself among his peers as he also expressed a desire to be in Minnesota long-term.

“The things I do coming out of the backfield, the things I do in between the tackles, I block, I pretty much do it all,” “I don’t have to come off the field. I think some guys just don’t do as much as I do, and I think that’s why I’m today’s [top] back.”

Cook played a career-high 14 games last season. Over his first two seasons, he missed more games (17) than he played (15), as a torn ACL cost him 12 games in his rookie season and a hamstring issue cost him five more in 2018. Over the last couple seasons, he has been limited by injury in some of the games he has played.

Cook is scheduled to make $1.13 million in base salary this year, so one way or the other he’s in line for a significant raise in his next deal.

With how significant contracts for Todd Gurley and David Johnson have turned out for the teams that signed them, and the way Le’Veon Bell’s looks sure to turn out, the Vikings should have some trepidation about making Cook one of the league’s highest-paid running backs. And that doesn’t even really consider the fact he has yet to play all 16 games in a season.

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The Vikings have extended their win-now window by extending Cousins for two more years. With Diggs gone, they’ll be counting on Cook even more as the centerpiece of the offense this year. It’s rare for an NFL running back to have great leverage heading into a second contract, but Cook has it, he knows it and the Vikings will have to pay him.

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