Dalvin Cook is the next premier running back to receive an extension. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Minnesota Vikings have given Cook a five-year, $63 million extension.
No franchise tag situation in Minnesota: Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook and the #Vikings have agreed to a 5yr, $63M extension, sources tell @RapSheet and me. After just 29 career games, Cook locks in over $28M guaranteed.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 12, 2020
The Vikings traded up to draft Cook back in 2017 to help fill the void left by future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson. They took him with the 41st overall pick in the second round.
When Cook has been healthy he is considered one of the elite running backs in the league. However, Cook’s biggest issue has been his health as he has only played in 29 games in three seasons. Cook has never played a full 16 games in a season. He only managed to play in four games his rookie season due to an ACL tear. His second season was lackluster and Cook missed time dealing with a hamstring issue.
Last year seemed to be the last opportunity for Cook to show the Vikings that he could stay healthy for the majority of the season and that the offense could be run through him. Though he missed two games because of a shoulder injury Cook managed to rush for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Cook and the Vikings hope that the injury concerns will be left in the past. However, the Vikings do have an out with only $28 Million guaranteed they can move off Cook after two seasons with only a three million dollar deal cap hit.
Cooks $12.6 million per year cap hit is just enough to slot him as the fifth highest-paid running back on a per-year basis right above Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans who got extended this past offseason. His overall contract gives Cook the third-biggest contract in the NFL among running backs.
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