Simply put, the Minnesota Vikings' Dalvin Cook believes he's the best running back in the NFL.

The 24-year-old had a breakthrough campaign during the 2019 season. The third-year runner ranked seventh in yards from scrimmage as he totaled 1,654 yards. That's not even mentioning the 13 touchdowns he scored on the ground, seventh-best in the NFL.

As Cook enters the fourth and final year of his contract, he's vouching for why he deserves a long-term deal.

Via Chris Tomasson of Twin Cities Pioneer Press:

“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,” Cook told Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. “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 and his agent are currently discussing a contract extension with the Vikings. However, no deal appears to be imminent. That could be due to the fact that high-paid running backs have not fared well in recent years. Examples of this include the likes of Todd Gurley, Ezeiel Elliott and David Johnson.

With the exception of Elliott, neither running back plays for their original team any longer. Despite the mounting evidence that investing big money in running backs is not a wise idea, Cook downplays that notion.

“It’s all a risk when you give any guy a contract in the league,” Cook said. “He could get hurt the next day in practice. So it’s all a risk. But what if the guy doesn’t get hurt, and he goes out there and helps contribute to the Super Bowl and he goes out there and balls out? . . . It’s all about what the person believes in, what the owners believe in, the G.M. believes in, and I firmly think the Vikings believe in me.”

We'll see if the Vikings end up investing in Cook. But one thing is for certain: Cook still believes he's the best RB in the league.