It was revealed on Monday that Dalvin Cook wouldn't participate in any of the offseason activities with the Minnesota Vikings until he received a ‘reasonable' deal from the team. However, according to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, Cook is seeking a contract north of what Christian McCaffrey got this offseason.
and in time following the draft, the reason for an impasse in negotiations is over the number Cook is looking for. Sources have told me the ideal figure is north of what Christian McCaffrey is making ($16 mill/year), but it does not seem the Vikings want/can be in that ballpark.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) June 8, 2020
Nearly two months ago, McCaffrey was able to finalize a multi-year extension with the Carolina Panthers. McCaffrey's new extension is a four-year deal that is worth $64 million, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
Since earlier this offseason, Cook has been discussing an extension with the Vikings. Seeing that he's entering the final year of his rookie contract, Cook wants some assurance beyond 2020.
Of course, it's reasonable for the former second-round pick to want a new deal in place with Minnesota. At the same time, even after the season he just had, it's hard to believe Cook will get a contract worth $16+ million annually.
Just this past season, the Florida State product rushed for a career-high 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns. Cook also proved that he can be a receiving threat in the offense, catching 53 passes for 519 yards.
While Cook showed that he can be a workhorse back, he's also proven to be injury-prone in his career thus far. In his first two seasons in the NFL, Cook missed a total of 17 games due to injuries. Even last season, Cook ended up missing the final two games of the year due to a shoulder ailment.
There's no doubt that when healthy, Cook makes Minnesota's offense exponentially better. However, if he is seeking McCaffrey money, expect a long standoff between Cook and the Vikings.
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