Dalvin Cook: ‘Look for the Vikings to still be contenders’

There have been a lot of questions regarding the Vikings’ offseason, and rightfully so.

They’ve traded star receiver Stefon Diggs, while losing Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Xavier Rhodes, Linval Joseph, Andrew Sendejo and likely Everson Griffen in free agency.

Even so, the Vikings still have Adam Thielen, Kirk Cousins, Harrison Smith, Danielle Hunter and Dalvin Cook.

Cook was on ESPN’s “First Take” on Tuesday and addressed the Diggs trade in a realistic way, but also gave fans a reason to be optimistic about 2020.

Via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin:

Fairly certain Dalvin Cook is the first member of the Vikings (player/coach/front office personnel) to publicly address the Stefon Diggs trade. Here's what he said when asked about why Diggs was OK leaving and what the offense will be like w/o him: "Diggs is just a player that he

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) April 7, 2020

we’re going to work towards that. Look for the Vikings to still be contenders."

— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) April 7, 2020

The Vikings certainly have the talent to compete, especially when seven teams will make the playoffs from each conference.

But GM Rick Spielman has plenty of work to do. The Vikings are incredibly thin at receiver and need to add at least one in the draft, and preferably in the first two rounds.

The same can be said about the cornerback position.

And then there’s the holes on the offensive and defensive lines.

Hopefully for Vikings fans, Cook is right. But in order to get to the “contender” status, a lot of things still need to go right for the Vikings in the remainder of the offseason.