The Vikings’ Dalvin Cook has been a subject of discussion among pundits in the NFL marketplace. The player was drafted by the Vikings in 2017 in their second draft round. He has spent a whopping six seasons in his career with the franchise. However, it seems that the franchise will be letting him go during this window.
It is not clear if the athlete will be released or traded. However, based on the Vikings signals, the team may be holding out for a trade partner. There is no team that has stepped up to take the offer. Most observers in the industry believe that interest in him falters depending on the method that the Minnesota Vikings decide to use to move him.
Cook has been one of the most productive running backs in the six seasons that he has been at the helm. The player is credited with over 1,000 rushing yards in each season. In 2020, he almost hit 2,000 yards, a first for the team. It is only that his relationship with the team has matured, not that his performance is poor.
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Who are the Possible Suitors for the NFL Star?
There are several teams that are rumored to have an interest in the player. Let’s explore four of them and why they are most likely.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers have brought in some new blood in Match. One of the new players was Adam Thielen, a longtime player for the Vikings who played wide receiver. He was brought in along with a Philadelphia Eagles running back named Miles Sanders. The latter player came to the team in free agency. Sanders will get the bulk of the work in the upcoming season, but the general lineup is not very deep.
Chuba Hubbard, the team’s second-ranked running back, is another player to keep an eye on. He is excellent at making paces on the field. If Cooks comes over, he will make a good upgrade to Hubbard and strengthen the running back area.
Besides, they would not have to put so much pressure on Sanders. It could use both running backs in the season, helping keep each one fresh enough to be energetic throughout the whole season.
Baltimore Ravens
Currently, Baltimore’s depth chart has a few good players. For example, the number one running back is J.K. Dobbins. He is fast and lethal in the field. Unfortunately, the player has been having injury problems over the last two seasons. This has caused him to miss about nine games in each of the past two seasons.
The fallback running back, Gus Edwards, has also had injury problems. He has missed over eight games in the last two seasons. Therefore, he is not a reliable alternative should the main man get into injury problems.
With these issues at hand, it makes sense for Baltimore to make a move for Cook, who is as experienced as these two. He would relieve their two main players for the season and increase the number of options on the table.
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have one of the best NFL running backs, Nick Chubb. He is in good shape and will likely be the leading man in the 2023 campaign. Unfortunately, there are a few good fallback options behind him. Two players, Demetric Felton Junior and Jerome Ford, are likely to compete for the second position.
Unfortunately, none of the players are good enough to fill Chubb’s shoes. Both have had a combined run of just eight yards in the last season. So they are deep enough to be handed the job. Cook could fill the second position comfortably, as he is a good running back and knows the drill.
Besides, the lead coach, Kevin Stefanski, was the offensive coordinator for the Vikings. When Cook got her Pro Bowl selection in 2019, Stefanski was the man at the helm. Therefore, he knows how to get the very best from this player.
Are There Other Former Vikings Players Who Are Free?
Free agency is tough for NFL players. It is hard for many players to get a team to draft them when they are in free agency. Unfortunately, a good number of players who made headlines with the Minnesota Vikings are now free and looking for a team to take them on. Here are some of them.
Yannick Ngakoue
The productive edge rusher, Yannick Ngakoue, has won 12 tackles and a pretty good five sacks during the time he spent with the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately, he did not shine when he was traded to Baltimore. Three years later, he is looking for a team. He has also played for the Colts and Raiders.
Teddy Bridgewater
Teddy Bridgewater played quarterback for the Vikings. He makes for a good backup as he has some starting experience. He even started a whopping 28 games for purple and gold between 2014 and 2015. After leaving the Vikings, he played for the Saints, Broncos, Panthers and Miami Dolphins. He can be a great addition to any team looking for depth at quarterback.