Dalvin Cook is a free agent after being released by the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings were open to retaining running back Dalvin Cook, but money appeared to be an issue that they could not get past as they were unwilling to pay the $14 million he was owed this season, and Cook was unwilling to restructure his deal.
Cook reportedly has no plans of “settling” as a free agent, and, in fact, is looking for a big deal from his new team.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Cook is seeking somewhere in the ballpark of $10.4 million.
Cook will make $2 million in 2023 if he does not play.
Appearing on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Cook said he will prioritize “fit for me and my family” and an organization that “values” him when he does pick a new team.
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“My shoulder is feeling great. So, it’s like a waiting game right now at this point. Just trying to find that right situation, and I don’t think it’s a rush or anything,” Cook, who had surgery in February to repair a torn labrum, said.
He added: “I want somebody who values Dalvin Cook. I want somebody that wants me to be there and give me the ball. I just want to go into the right situation so I can go help somebody win.”
Cook is unlikely to consider any offers in the range of $4M-5M per year, which fellow veterans like Jamaal Williams and David Montgomery received in free agency.
Cook started every game in 2022 for the first time in his career, despite separating his shoulder in Week 3. He finished with an average of 17.8 touches and 86 yards from scrimmage per game, which were both the lowest since he became a full-time player in 2019.
He rushed for 1,173 yards last season — his fourth-straight season rushing for more than 1K — and also earned his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl selection.
Cook is either going to find a team to pay him what he wants or he will have to face the fact that not many teams are spending heavily on the position and take what he can get.
