5 NFL players who will earn big money in contract years

Someone is going to pay running back Dalvin Cook top dollar. Whether that is the Minnesota Vikings or someone else remains to be seen. After two injury-riddled years, the former second-round pick out of Florida State University ran for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career en route to a Pro Bowl. Cook is set to cash-in after what should be a great age-25 season in 2020.

Cook’s average salary in his NFL has been a shade under $1.59 million. Though a great candidate to be franchise tagged by the Vikings, he could land elsewhere if Minnesota doesn’t feel he’s worth being paid the average of a top-five salary at his position group for 2021. Frankly, Cook is one of those running backs who will be worth it. Just look at Derrick Henry last year.

Like Henry, Cook came on in his third season in the NFL out of a traditional college power. Though he may not be seen as the best running back entering 2020, Henry wasn’t viewed that way entering 2019, and this guy won a Heisman Trophy and a national championship while at Alabama. Cook may be Henry Lite, but he’s certainly worth the big bump in pay he will land.

Paying a running back big money on a second contract is a risky proposition, but some team will take a gamble on a player of Cook’s caliber. Even if he regresses with offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski leaving for the Cleveland Browns’ head coaching gig, Cook will have a robust market in his impending free agency as long as he stays healthy this fall.