Since the 2023 offseason got into full swing back in March, rumors started running rampant on social media regarding Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook.
Throughout Minnesota circles, rumors of a trade, or ultimately cutting ties fully in a release, see Cook likely heading to another roster this upcoming season.
The issue on the ease or difficulty of this starts with his $10.4 million salary on the book for 2023 with a $14.1 million cap hit. According to Over the Cap, cutting Cook pre-June 1 would leave roughly $8.2 million in dead cap for Minnesota, with a savings of about $5.9 million this year. A trade, however, would create $6.2 million in dead cap and savings of $7.9 million.
Now, if Cook is cut post-June 1, Minnesota would be left with a dead cap hit of $5.1 million and cap savings of $9 million. Even more intriguing financially, a post-June 1 trade would mean a dead-cap figure of just $3.1 million with savings of $11 million.
As per the salary cap website, these figures are all on the Vikings’ side to evaluate, while the other side of the potential equation would need another suitor. The social media speculation is that suitor could be in South Florida.
Cook is entering his seventh NFL season, and his last four have been Pro Bowl campaigns. In his six seasons in Minnesota, Cook has averaged 4.7 career yards per attempt, accumulated 5,993 yards with four straight 1,000-plus seasons and 47 rushing touchdowns. He’s also been a factor in the passing attack, with 221 career receptions for 1,794 yards and five scores.
The Dolphins, coincidentally, will recoup $13.6 million after June 1 from Byron Jones’ release, which was announced back in March. With that money freeing up, and the potential of Cook becoming available at the same time, the second hurdle in acquiring the runner for Miami would be reworking the framework of a contract.
Cook’s agent, Zac Hiller of LAA Sports, appeared on the Miami Sports Music Podcast Network’s morning show, “Clockblockers,” earlier this week and provided clarity of the situation to co-hosts Stephen Daniels and yours truly.
Hiller discussed aspects of NFL draft week as well and detailed his experiences as an agent, but he did say that his client is under contract with the Vikings. With Cook being from South Florida, Daniels asked Hiller about a potential desire for his client to play for a team such as the Dolphins.
“Dalvin loves football, and he just wants to play football, and he wants to play football where he’s wanted,” Hiller said. “That’s the most important thing to him is that he wants to be somewhere he is wanted and that they believe in his skill-set, they are going to utilize his skill set, and the fans want him, everybody wants him.
“He wants to be somewhere where he’s wanted, that’s what I know.”
This is one side, and the side we don’t know is Miami’s and general manager Chris Grier. While it was speculated that a potential deal was discussed, as many teams may have even inquired, the Dolphins have recently been very economical with their running back dealings. Grier has shown a habit of not spending top-dollar or high-end draft capital in that room.
The NFL draft starts Thursday and there have been recent rumors about the Dolphins fielding calls and/or inquiring about moving into the first round for a running back. These could also be classic smoke signals, as this would be out of Grier’s pattern, also considering the fact Miami is limited in this year’s draft capital, as well as next year’s.
One way or another, more clarity should come in the next few days about their plans with the running back room, which currently is welcoming back four from last season.
