Minnesota’s running back corps seemed set for 2020 — until it came out that Dalvin Cook will reportedly be refraining from any team-related activities until he receives a “reasonable” deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Cook holding out complicates things for a plethora of reasons. The Vikings were a team in 2019 that loved to run the ball. Minnesota lost its offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski this offseason after Stefanski became head coach of the Browns.
The team replaced him with Gary Kubiak, who was the Vikings’ offensive advisor in 2019. Based on Kubiak’s offensive history, it seems likely that Minnesota’s scheme will be more or less the same to what it was in 2019. That means the team will still have to rely on running the ball, so hopefully Cook is in the mix.
Here are three reasons why the Vikings should keep Cook around:
When Cook is on, the Vikings usually win
Cook had over 100 yards rushing in five different games last season.
Of those games, the Vikings’ only loss was to the Packers, a team that beat Minnesota 21-16 in that contest and finished 13-3 in the regular season.
There were also two games where he came pretty close to 100 yards rushing — he had 98 against the Redskins and 97 against the Cowboys. The Vikings won both of those games.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported that the Vikings are 12-3 overall when Cook has gone for at least 100 yards in his career. It’s safe to say that when Cook gets going, so does the Minnesota offense.
Cook helps Kirk Cousins play better
Yes, yes, it’s hard to rationalize paying a ton of money to a running back.
But the Vikings offense runs smoother with Cook in the backfield, especially because of the Vikings’ offensive system.
Pro Football Focus said that Cousins was the top-ranked quarterback in play-action passes and designed roll outs. A system change led to him improving his quarterback passer rating from 99.7 in 2018 to 107.4 in 2019.
Play-action passes are set up by a good running game. If Alexander Mattison or Mike Boone start, then opposing defenses won’t have to load the box to stop Cook. Linebackers won’t bite as hard on play-action. Opponents can force Cousins to have to make plays in order to win.
In 2018, when Cousins dropped back a lot more and Cook played in just 11 games, the Vikings went 8-7-1 and missed the playoffs. Good defenses were mostly able to stifle the Vikings offense, and if Cook isn’t on the field, I could see that happening again.
A deal for Cook doesn’t have to break the bank
Based on what running backs have received for deals as of late, it seems likely that Cook will have a deal in the double digits. That doesn’t mean the Vikings will have to spend more money than necessary, though.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin first reported that the ideal contract for Cook is north of what Christian McCaffrey is making at $16 million per year. However, Cronin also wrote that sources say Cook would gladly take $13 million.
The Athletic’s Chad Graff said Cook isn’t asking for money on-par with McCaffrey. Graff reported that Cook is looking for money similar to what David Johnson received, so around $13 million.
For Cook, if a contract of $13 million a year works out, then I think Minnesota should do it. It’s a cheap enough contract where the team won’t be strapped for cash down the road.
Cook is a vital part of the offense and keeping him around doesn’t have to cost the Vikings too much. I say do it.
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