Minnesota Vikings release Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook

The Minnesota Vikings formally launched veteran running back Dalvin Cook on Friday, per numerous reports.

Just like that, Cook’s six-year period in Minnesota hasactually come to a close after no late trade deal came through.

The Miami Dolphins and the Denver Broncos have apparently emerged as capacity suitors for Cook.

Cook has played his whole expert profession with the Vikings up to this point. He was picked by Minnesota in the 2nd round (41st total) of the 2017 NFL Draft out of FSU. He signed a five-year extension with Minnesota ahead of the 2020 season under previous basic supervisor Rick Spielman. That offer called for Cook to make $11 million in 2023, with a $14.1 million wage cap number. The Vikings ranked No. 3 in cap dedication to the running back position with Cook’s numbers still on their books.

Cook got 74% of the Vikings’ brings last season, hurrying for 1,173 backyards — the sixth-most in the league — and 8 goals. He produced his 4th successive 1,000-yard season in 2022 and didn’t missouton a single videogame for the veryfirst time in his profession.

What’s more, 2 of the 6 longest runs of his profession came last season: a 53-yard rating in Week 6 and an 81-yard rating in Week 10 in which Cook taped a leading speed of 21.68 milesperhour, the seventh-fastest speed for any ball provider in 2022, per Next Gen Stats. 

However, Cook likewise led the NFL with 62 brings that either lost or did not gain a backyard. The four-time Pro Bowler has hurried for more lawns (5,993) than any Vikings runners otherthan Adrian Peterson (11,747) and Robert Smith (6,818).

Cook, who turns 28 in August, dealswith an uphill fight next season regardless of where he ends up. In 2022, just 3 running backs age 28 or older (Latavius Murray, Raheem Mostert and Derrick Henry) hurried for more than 500 backyards.

The Vikings re-signed backup running back Alexander Mattison, 24, in March to a agreement that assurances him $6.35 million over the next 2 seasons. Shortly after finalizing his brand-new agreement, Mattison stated that he returned to Minnesota duetothefactthat of an “understanding how it’s all laid out and how it’s all going to work out,” per ESPN.

Mattison hurried for 283 backyards and 5 ratings last season without a single start. All 5 of his 20-plus-carry videogames have come in videogames Cook either missedouton or left early. He has balanced 1.91 lawns per rush after contact — alittle muchbetter than Cook’s mark of 1.77 over the past 4 seasons — however just one of his 404 profession brings hasactually gone beyond 24 backyards.

Mattison’s cap numbers over the next 2 seasons are $2.4 million and $4.6 million, respectively.

Ty Chandler, a 2022 fifth-round draft choice who invested most of the season on hurt reserve, and Pro Bowl kickoff returner Kene Nwangwu presently accompany Mattison on the Vikings’ depth chart.

“Between Kene and Ty, there currently appears to be a actually great competitors developing there,” coach Kevin O’Connell justrecently stated, “because both of those men are having actually strong springs and kind of revealing their flexibility.”

DeWayne McBride, a seventh-round draft choice from UAB who led the country in hurrying throughout the 2022 college season, is likewise in the mix. He has yet to getinvolved in spring drills while restoring a small hamstring injury, .

The Vikings completed last season with a 13-4 record and a wild-card round postseason exit.