Here's what appears to be happening with Dalvin Cook, Za'Darius Smith
Friday passed without any resolution to the Dalvin Cook and Za'Darius Smith situations.Joe Nelson3 hours ago
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.
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
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...
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.
@"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.
Cook's shoulder surgery could be an issue as well
@"Vikergirl" said: Cook's shoulder surgery could be an issue as wellThis ^^^
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
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…
@"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
@"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.
They can’t afford him. Even if they could, it doesn’t make much sense putting that kind of money into the RB position in this offense.
If he is released, it won't be before the draft or even before June 1 given the significant savings for a post June 1 cut. I don't know why Fowler is reporting that he could be cut before the draft.
@"PurplePastor" said: If he is released, it won't be before the draft or even before June 1 given the significant savings for a post June 1 cut. I don't know why Fowler is reporting that he could be cut before the draft.Just more clickbait
Seems like a restructured deal that keeps him in this offense may be his best option.
With the way FA contracts go for 27 year old RB's I don't think he has much leverage.
@"Mattyman" said:Seems like a restructured deal that keeps him in this offense may be his best option.
With the way FA contracts go for 27 year old RB's I don't think he has much leverage.
He has none and although its hardball, the Vikings don't need to rush into releasing him. Whether they were to move on now, during training camp, or at any point in-between when they need cap space the cap implications are the same. Ideally I think they trade him near or during the draft. If not I bet they try to pressure him into taking a straight pay-cut.
I still contend that Cook is one of the top 5 RB's in the league, is only 27, and it would be a mistake for the Vikings to get rid of him and just expect these other guys to replace his production. If thats the plan, then there really is no point in holding onto Cousins either for this upcoming season.
@"supafreak84" said: I still contend that Cook is one of the top 5 RB's in the league, is only 27, and it would be a mistake for the Vikings to get rid of him and just expect these other guys to replace his production. If thats the plan, then there really is no point in holding onto Cousins either for this upcoming season.The situations are different entirely. If you dump Cook you save $6-8M on the cap this season and $15M in both 2023/24 while having a viable replacement in Mattison/Chandler and a potential lost cost draft pick. The question is more around if they want to pay any RB >$10M or if they will get the necessary production out of allocating resources this way. Its has nothing to do with tanking of competitiveness.
As it relates to Kirk this would only increase his value in many ways since they would be committing to a more pass heavy approach. If there is no point in holding onto Kirk you're effectively valuing the RB position in close proximity to QB.
@"supafreak84" said: I still contend that Cook is one of the top 5 RB's in the league, is only 27, and it would be a mistake for the Vikings to get rid of him and just expect these other guys to replace his production. If thats the plan, then there really is no point in holding onto Cousins either for this upcoming season.I would rather have DC on the team than not. But the question is what are we not doing to upgrade another personnel group keeping him here?
Dont know if last year is a great crystal ball or the anomaly season.
I also think we can get an awful lot of his production back with Mattison and the rest of that RB room. Maybe he'll stay on a lesser deal?
But I dont connect him potentially leaving with a need to chuck our PB QB.
@"Geoff Nichols" said:@"supafreak84" said: I still contend that Cook is one of the top 5 RB's in the league, is only 27, and it would be a mistake for the Vikings to get rid of him and just expect these other guys to replace his production. If thats the plan, then there really is no point in holding onto Cousins either for this upcoming season. The situations are different entirely. If you dump Cook you save $6-8M on the cap this season and $15M in both 2023/24 while having a viable replacement in Mattison/Chandler and a potential lost cost draft pick. The question is more around if they want to pay any RB >$10M or if they will get the necessary production out of allocating resources this way. Its has nothing to do with tanking of competitiveness.As it relates to Kirk this would only increase his value in many ways since they would be committing to a more pass heavy approach. If there is no point in holding onto Kirk you're effectively valuing the RB position in close proximity to QB.
I just think it's foolish to get rid of a guy who is a top 5 RB in the league and expecting a committee approach to replicate his production and what he means to the offense. Mattison is a good straight-line runner, but doesn't come close to Cook's burst, vision, change of direction, and home run hitting ability. Chandler looked good last preseason but didn't play at all last year so is an unknown. Cook is still only 27 and should have realistically four years left of top production, and if the shoulder is finally fixed, he'll be even better.Either the front office needs to be all in for this upcoming season or get rid of the pieces that don't have a long-term future with the franchise. If Cook is on that list, then Cousins should be as well entering into the last season of his contract as a 35-year-old player who we don't want to sign to another big money extension. If you get rid of one, then get rid of the other and lets build this thing towards the future. You get rid of Cook but retain Cousins, chances are we only solidifying mediocrity for next season.
@"supafreak84" said:@"Geoff Nichols" said:@"supafreak84" said: I still contend that Cook is one of the top 5 RB's in the league, is only 27, and it would be a mistake for the Vikings to get rid of him and just expect these other guys to replace his production. If thats the plan, then there really is no point in holding onto Cousins either for this upcoming season. The situations are different entirely. If you dump Cook you save $6-8M on the cap this season and $15M in both 2023/24 while having a viable replacement in Mattison/Chandler and a potential lost cost draft pick. The question is more around if they want to pay any RB >$10M or if they will get the necessary production out of allocating resources this way. Its has nothing to do with tanking of competitiveness.As it relates to Kirk this would only increase his value in many ways since they would be committing to a more pass heavy approach. If there is no point in holding onto Kirk you're effectively valuing the RB position in close proximity to QB.
I just think it's foolish to get rid of a guy who is a top 5 RB in the league and expecting a committee approach to replicate his production and what he means to the offense. Mattison is a good straight-line runner, but doesn't come close to Cook's burst, vision, change of direction, and home run hitting ability. Chandler looked good last preseason but didn't play at all last year so is an unknown. Cook is still only 27 and should have realistically four years left of top production, and if the shoulder is finally fixed, he'll be even better.Either the front office needs to be all in for this upcoming season or get rid of the pieces that don't have a long-term future with the franchise. If Cook is on that list, then Cousins should be as well entering into the last season of his contract as a 35-year-old player who we don't want to sign to another big money extension. If you get rid of one, then get rid of the other and lets build this thing towards the future. You get rid of Cook but retain Cousins, chances are we only solidifying mediocrity for next season.
If we only had a mediocre Cook last season with Cousins, then why should we be much worse without Cook? Our offense wasn't the issue last year.
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