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Here's what appears to be happening with Dalvin Cook, Za'Darius Smith
#1
Friday passed without any resolution to the Dalvin Cook and Za'Darius Smith situations.Joe Nelson3 hours ago[Image: cook-and-smith.jpg]Friday came and went without any major Minnesota Vikings news. Sure, the team signed longtime Packers defensive lineman Dean Lowry but there was zero movement with running back Dalvin Cook and edge rusher Za'Darius Smith. 
There were reports suggesting Cook and Smith would have portions of their 2023 contracts guaranteed by the end of the day Friday, leading many to wonder if the Vikings would trade or release one or both. 
Instead, radio silence. Nothing happened. So what gives?
According to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, who was a guest on KFAN radioin the Twin Cities on Friday, Cook already had $2 million guaranteed for injury and nothing further was guaranteed by the end of business on Friday. 
"I don't think he would've been denied that money if they had cut him by 3 o'clock today because of that injury guarantee," Goessling said. "That money was already locked in. So what it does do, if you've got a trade offer or you decide you want to move on at some point you've got a little more time because you're not locking yourself into anything today that you weren't already locked into."
According to OverTheCap, if the Vikings cut Cook before June 1 they'll save about $5.9 million while he costs the team a $8.2 million dead cap hit. But that's cheaper than the $14.1 million cap hit he'll cost the Vikings if he stays on his current contract. 
Remember, Cook's future is up in the air because he's on an expensive contract with a team that is pressed up against the salary cap and just signed running back Alexander Mattison to a two-year, $7 million deal. 
Cook, 27, has rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 touchdowns in six seasons with the Vikings, in addition to 1,794 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. Since 2018 only Derrick Henry (7,101 yards), Nick Chubb (6,341 yards) and Ezekiel Elliott (5,648 yards) have rushed for more yards than Cook (5,639).
As for Za'Darius Smith, his future with Minnesota has been in the spotlight since he listed his Minnesota home for sale last month, and then publicly thanked the Vikings and his teammates in a social media post on March 9, which preceded a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport who said Smith had asked the Vikings to release him.
The 31-year-old carries a $15.49 million cap hit in 2023. Although it's not confirmed, it's widely believed that $5.05 million of Smith's 2023 contract became guaranteed on Friday, so if the Vikings were going to cut him it would've made sense to do it before that money was in Smith's bank account. 
Goessling still thinks a move could come. 
"I still think there is going to be something that shakes out there. I think they have been looking at, possibly a trade," said Goessling about Smith. "They would still recoup some money if they were to cut him but I don't think they're going to do that at this point. If they were going to do it they would've done it before this afternoon.
"And they have indicated, at least the sense I've gotten from the people I've talked to who have talked to them, is that they don't want to cut him. I still think we're going to possibly have a trade there, I think there could be a move coming for him as we go. But as of now, we don't have anything."
There are a lot of unknowns with Minnesota's edge rushers. Marcus Davenport is the new guy on the block after signing as a free agent, Danielle Hunter is going to need a new contract before next season (probably) and Smith's situation is up in the air. 
Smith was a force for the first half of the 2022-23 season, generating 6.1 quarterback pressures per game in Weeks 1-10 before that dipped to 3.3 pressures per game Week 11 through the playoffs. His first half was so good that he still finished fifth in the NFL with 80 QB pressures. 
https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/vikings/heres-what-appears-to-be-happening-with-dalvin-cook-zadarius-smith

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#2
I think they want to trade either or both, but no hurry, be nice to get draft picks this year, but they could get more as injuries pile up in Aug/Sep...
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#3
[Image: 995qra2m41la.jpeg]
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#4
Hard to say, but could they be used as trade fodder to move up for a QB? I really don't even know if that's a real possibility.
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#5
Quote: @StickyBun said:
Hard to say, but could they be used as trade fodder to move up for a QB? I really don't even know if that's a real possibility.
Hunter is likely the only guy we have of real trade value.  Cook and Smith are both teetering on the edge or put their prime and likely still wanting bog dollar deals so imo their trade value is pretty low.
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#6
Cook's shoulder surgery could be an issue as well 
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#7
Quote: @Vikergirl said:
Cook's shoulder surgery could be an issue as well 
This ^^^
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#8
Per Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, if the Vikings can't find a trade partner for Dalvin Cook there is a real possibility he could be released and "all options are on the table." 

I tell you what, if they end up releasing Dalvin Cook for nothing, they better just go ahead and start this full rebuild immediately. I was listening to an interview with Cook's agent earlier this week and he talked about Dalvin playing last year on essentially one shoulder and it effected his running stye with trying to avoid unnecessary contact on that hurt shoulder. The shoulder is finally fixed and this will be the first season in a while Cook is coming in 100% healthy. I think it would be an incredibly bad move for the Vikings to hold on to Kirk Cousins and some of these other veterans but cut Cook. You are either choosing to be competitive for this upcoming season or you aren't and if they are trying to compete they are going to do that better with Dalvin Cook on the roster
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#9
His shoulder was hurt before his extension though, his agent also mentioned in that interview that mediocrity has affected him, sounds pretty gone to me, Idk…
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#10
Quote: @supafreak84 said:
Per Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, if the Vikings can't find a trade partner for Dalvin Cook there is a real possibility he could be released and "all options are on the table." 

I tell you what, if they end up releasing Dalvin Cook for nothing, they better just go ahead and start this full rebuild immediately. I was listening to an interview with Cook's agent earlier this week and he talked about Dalvin playing last year on essentially one shoulder and it effected his running stye with trying to avoid unnecessary contact on that hurt shoulder. The shoulder is finally fixed and this will be the first season in a while Cook is coming in 100% healthy. I think it would be an incredibly bad move for the Vikings to hold on to Kirk Cousins and some of these other veterans but cut Cook. You are either choosing to be competitive for this upcoming season or you aren't and if they are trying to compete they are going to do that better with Dalvin Cook on the roster
Quote: @supafreak84 said:
Per Jeremy Fowler at ESPN, if the Vikings can't find a trade partner for Dalvin Cook there is a real possibility he could be released and "all options are on the table." 

I tell you what, if they end up releasing Dalvin Cook for nothing, they better just go ahead and start this full rebuild immediately. I was listening to an interview with Cook's agent earlier this week and he talked about Dalvin playing last year on essentially one shoulder and it effected his running stye with trying to avoid unnecessary contact on that hurt shoulder. The shoulder is finally fixed and this will be the first season in a while Cook is coming in 100% healthy. I think it would be an incredibly bad move for the Vikings to hold on to Kirk Cousins and some of these other veterans but cut Cook. You are either choosing to be competitive for this upcoming season or you aren't and if they are trying to compete they are going to do that better with Dalvin Cook on the roster
Of course his agent is going to sell everyone on the injury being the main issue causing Dalvin's declining performance. I don't see any way another team would give him the type of money he currently has with the Vikings if he hit the open market. Not saying there isn't any truth to what his agent says, but I would be even more cautious about tying up that much cap space on a RB who has always struggled to stay healthy and is just coming off of Shoulder Surgery. The cap relief would be greater next year if we waited but if the money we fee up from cutting him can help in other areas they have to consider doing it now, which I think we all agree they are. 
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