The Minnesota Vikings have made a last-ditch effort to trade star running back Dalvin Cook before releasing him. Cook and the Vikings have been rumoured for a split this offseason, with the NFL franchise expected to officially release the running back on Friday.
However, ESPN reported that the Vikings would attempt to trade the four-time Pro Bowler at least one more time on Thursday before ultimately waiving him off the books for the upcoming season.
After publicly making it known that the release of Cook was in the Viking's plans, NFL teams would more than likely wait for the running back to be released, so they wouldn't have to give away current assets to acquire his services.
The Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins are two organisations considered to be interested in the services of the power running back as they look to strengthen their backfield depth heading into next season.
Cook has spent all of his six-year NFL career in the purple and gold, rushing for nearly 6,000 yards and 47 touchdowns. His pending release will mark the first time in his NFL career that he will hit the open free-agency market.
The 27-year-old back was set to earn over $14 million against Minnesota's salary cap in 2023, making him a primary candidate for the team to save funds. Last March, the Vikings re-signed backup running back Alexander Mattison to a two-year contract with $7 million, cutting the cost of their running back production in half.
With superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson on the brink of free agency in 2025, the organisation can now use Cook's previously allocated funds to pay their new star after he finishes his rookie deal.
The relationship between Cook and the Vikings has been visibly rocky. Despite their professional differences, the Vikings have been clear that they want to "do the right thing" by Cook by being open to retaining his rights for a lower price.
After refusing to take a pay cut with the organisation, Cook posted a photo of himself on his Instagram page, purposely covering up the Vikings logo. In May, Minnesota altered a social media graphic that previously promoted Cook as a star on the team and replaced him with Mattison, confirming the team's message to both fans and Cook that he likely wouldn't remain a team member.
The team has also said they'd facilitate a trade for Cook to go to an organisation where he can earn starting minutes and be happy during the next chapter of his career, whether with the Vikings on a lower pay rate or with another team in the NFL.
