Minnesota Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook has frequently popped up in the trade rumor mill over the last several months But as OTA offseason workouts inch closer, Cook remains a member of the defending NFC North champions.
The soon-to-be 28-year-old is under contract through the 2025 season. In 2020, Cook signed a lucrative five-year contract extension worth $63 million.
Over at NFL Analysis Network, Kenneth Teape proposed a blockbuster trade idea that would see the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs acquire the four-time Pro Bowl running back:
“What could a trade between the Chiefs and Vikings look like? He isn’t quite on Christian McCaffrey’s level but he should net more than D’Andre Swift did during the draft last week. Kansas City could offer their 2024 fourth and seventh-round picks to Minnesota in exchange for the four-time Pro Bowler.
The Vikings would clear some more salary cap space and open up some spending money to upgrade other positions on the roster. Getting two Day 3 selections will also help them round out the team in next year’s draft.
The Chiefs get a player in Cook that is a true three-down back. He can take pressure off of Mahomes as teams will respect him a little more in the running game than they did Pacheco and McKinnon last year. Anything Kansas City can do to take attention away from Mahomes and the passing game is a win.”
The Vikings are up against the salary cap but cleared some room by dealing standout pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns on Friday. Though Cook has been a key part of the offense, No. 2 running back Alexander Mattison has shown plenty of flashes as well.
It’s not hard in this day and age for teams to find a quality running back, either. So it wouldn’t be a surprise for the Vikings to move on from Cook and use a cheaper option like Mattison, who has averaged a respectable 4.1 yards per carry in his career.
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Isiah Pacheco, a seventh-round pick, finished the 2022 season as Kansas City’s leading rusher. Pacheco had 830 rushing yards and five touchdowns in a pass-first offense, so the Chiefs don’t necessarily need help at running back.
But an explosive runner like Cook would only help an already potent Kansas City offense. If the Vikings are keen on trading him, the Chiefs may as well inquire on the asking price and see if a deal can be had.
