Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook wants Christian McCaffrey money, and while he may not end up landing $16 million a year like the Carolina Panthers back, he still seems set for a big payday.
According to Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com, negotiations between Cook and the Minnesota Vikings have been ongoing for quite some time. The Vikings' initial offer was under $10 million annually, which Cook and his representatives deemed unreasonable.
Cronin notes that Cook wants a similar type of deal to the one that McCaffrey received from the Panthers, but that he probably will make under $15 million per year.
There is currently a stalemate between the two sides, which Cronin says is no reason to panic due to the typical nature of contract negotiations.
She adds that Minnesota may end up offering somewhere in the neighborhood of $13 million annually, which is more fitting given Cook's injury history, the Vikings' unenviable salary cap situation and the general value of halfbacks in today's NFL.
Cook is coming off of a breakout 2019-20 campaign in which he played 14 games and racked up 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. In addition, he hauled in 53 receptions for 519 yards en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.
The 24-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Florida State, was originally selected by Minnesota in the second round (41st pick overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.
His rookie season was cut short after just four contests due to a torn ACL, and the following year, more knee issues limited Cook to 11 games. He's currently threatening a holdout for the 2020 season if he does not get paid what he's seeking. But, at least according to the people Cronin has spoken with, (most of) that money looks to eventually come his way.
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