Interesting take on Cook and RB position today...
Kevin O'Connell is expected to discard star running back Dalvin Cook, moving the Vikings closer to the blueprint of O'Connell's previous employer, Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams.McVay became a young head coach in 2017. Like O'Connell with the Vikings, McVay had immediate regular-season success, debuting with an 11-5 record. Like O'Connell, McVay's first team lost to an unimpressive playoff opponent, Atlanta.
In McVay's second season, he built his offense around star running back Todd Gurley. The Rams went 13-3 and made it to the Super Bowl, where Gurley's injuries limited their offense and led to a 13-3 loss to Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
Gurley would play for the Rams just one more season, as injuries robbed him of the explosiveness that made him special. Wary of relying on a running back or a running game, McVay began building the passing offense that would produce a Super Bowl title after the 2021 season.
(McVay also hired a coordinator from the Phillips family. Wade was his defensive coordinator for his first Super Bowl appearance; O'Connell hired Wes Phillips, Wade's son, as his offensive coordinator.)
McVay drafted running back Cam Akers in the second round in 2020. He won the Super Bowl, though, with an inexpensive running back rotation, and a three-receiver set that highlighted a superstar, Cooper Kupp.
The Vikings have their star receiver in Justin Jefferson. Despite having one of the worst defenses in the league, O'Connell pushed for the Vikings to select a receiver in the first round in this April's draft. Jordan Addison, K.J. Osborn and tight end T.J. Hockenson will punish those who overplay Jefferson.
The Vikings are about to adopt an inexpensive running back rotation. Alexander Mattison will be the lead back, with Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler and seventh-round draft pick DeWayne McBride competing for snaps.
Limiting investments at the running back position in a salary-cap league allows more to be spent at other positions, and most other positions are more important than running back.
Mattison is a better pass blocker than Cook, and if O'Connell's goal is to run the best possible passing offense while getting enough rushing yards to keep defenses honest, pass-blocking skills will be vital.
Cook has begun to show signs of wear. He rushed for 111.2 yards per game in 2020, then 89.2 in 2021 and just 69.0 last year. To his credit, he played in all 18 games, and he made game-changing plays against Washington, Miami, Buffalo and Indianapolis, but a speed back can't afford to lose a step.
Jefferson's brilliance and the Vikings' ability to win close games in 2022 obscured the fact that Cook and veteran receiver Adam Thielen were not as productive as they should have been.
NFL teams have discovered that they can win without a star running back. The only championship-caliber team that is heavily invested in its top running back is San Francisco, which traded for Christian McCaffrey last year. The 49ers could afford to do so because they aren't spending much at quarterback and might have the best overall roster in the NFL.
The Chiefs spent a first-round draft pick on Clyde Edwards-Helaire in 2020. They shouldn't have. They won a Super Bowl the year before they drafted him. They won the Super Bowl last year with him not playing in the postseason. He has rushed for 49.2 yards per regular-season game during his career, a total many teams reach by handing the ball to a low-round draft pick or undrafted free agent.
The leading rusher in the Super Bowl for the past four champions: seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco (Chiefs); second-round pick Akers (Rams), who rushed 13 times for 21 yards; Leonard Fournette, signed by the Buccaneers after the Jaguars released him; Damien Williams (Chiefs), an undrafted free agent.
The Vikings are moving in the right direction by discarding Cook, and that path was charted by O'Connell's old boss.
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-vikings-dalvin-cook-discard-kevin-oconnell-sean-mcvay-justin-jefferson-jim-souhan/600279968/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
@"ArizonaViking" said:Wonderful. Let's cut him for nothing. Great job KwesiThe Minnesota Vikings are expected to officially release running back Dalvin Cook on Friday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source. Cook and the team have long been rumored to be heading their separate ways this offseason. The 27-year-old RB has 5,993 career rushing yards and 47 touchdowns, plus another 1,794 receiving yards and five scores on 221 receptions in six seasons, all with the Vikings.
@"supafreak84" said:I am wondering if this isnt Kwesi of trying to at least get a low ball offer on the table once multiple teams are linked to DC, but honestly if the team needs his cap saving to get JJ into a new deal, vs back loading JJs deal and possibly ending up having to cut him in a couple years when they have other new more pressing contracts to work into the cap, I would rather take the kicking now in a year where many dont expect much than risk losing JJ or others when we should be on the cusp of something better.@"ArizonaViking" said:The Minnesota Vikings are expected to officially release running back Dalvin Cook on Friday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source. Cook and the team have long been rumored to be heading their separate ways this offseason. The 27-year-old RB has 5,993 career rushing yards and 47 touchdowns, plus another 1,794 receiving yards and five scores on 221 receptions in six seasons, all with the Vikings.Wonderful. Let's cut him for nothing. Great job Kwesi
@"JimmyinSD" said:I wonder what the number was the Vikings wanted on a reduction? Regardless, wouldn't you rather have Dalvin Cook in the backfield instead of the handful of chicken shit contracts we signed players to in free agency? If the choice was between giving Dalvin Cook his money, or using that money to sign Oliver, Lowry, and Mattison in free agency....would the obvious choice not be Dalvin Cook and what he does for the offense? I just don't understand this move and it's another log on the wtf fire for this front office.@"supafreak84" said:I am wondering if this isnt Kwesi of trying to at least get a low ball offer on the table once multiple teams are linked to DC, but honestly if the team needs his cap saving to get JJ into a new deal, vs back loading JJs deal and possibly ending up having to cut him in a couple years when they have other new more pressing contracts to work into the cap, I would rather take the kicking now in a year where many dont expect much than risk losing JJ or others when we should be on the cusp of something better.@"ArizonaViking" said:The Minnesota Vikings are expected to officially release running back Dalvin Cook on Friday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source. Cook and the team have long been rumored to be heading their separate ways this offseason. The 27-year-old RB has 5,993 career rushing yards and 47 touchdowns, plus another 1,794 receiving yards and five scores on 221 receptions in six seasons, all with the Vikings.Wonderful. Let's cut him for nothing. Great job Kwesi
@"supafreak84" said:you are looking at it from a 1 year aspect, wasnt Cook due the same or more money next year as well? I really like DC, but his play last year was so Jeckyl and Hyde that I am fine with them moving on from him on that deal. I also like Mattisons running style, he isnt going to break as many, but he also isnt going to have as many negative runs. just because I dont see the plan, doesnt mean I dont think there is one. This is only year two so I am going to sit back and see where things are this time next year before I go blasting away on KAM.@"JimmyinSD" said:I wonder what the number was the Vikings wanted on a reduction? Regardless, wouldn't you rather have Dalvin Cook in the backfield instead of the handful of chicken shit contracts we signed players to in free agency? If the choice was between giving Dalvin Cook his money, or using that money to sign Oliver, Lowry, and Mattison in free agency....would the obvious choice not be Dalvin Cook and what he does for the offense? I just don't understand this move and it's another log on the wtf fire for this front office.@"supafreak84" said:I am wondering if this isnt Kwesi of trying to at least get a low ball offer on the table once multiple teams are linked to DC, but honestly if the team needs his cap saving to get JJ into a new deal, vs back loading JJs deal and possibly ending up having to cut him in a couple years when they have other new more pressing contracts to work into the cap, I would rather take the kicking now in a year where many dont expect much than risk losing JJ or others when we should be on the cusp of something better.@"ArizonaViking" said:The Minnesota Vikings are expected to officially release running back Dalvin Cook on Friday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source. Cook and the team have long been rumored to be heading their separate ways this offseason. The 27-year-old RB has 5,993 career rushing yards and 47 touchdowns, plus another 1,794 receiving yards and five scores on 221 receptions in six seasons, all with the Vikings.Wonderful. Let's cut him for nothing. Great job Kwesi
@"JimmyinSD" said:Yes I'm looking at it from a one year perspective because it's the last year Cousins is under contract, we have no contingency plan, and if we are going all in trying to win it this year then give me Dalvin Cook in the backfield. We are not a better team with Mattison, Chandler, or whomever else you want to throw back there as the featured runner. Defensive coordinators will sleep a lot better at night not having to account for Dalvin Cook when they play the Vikings and that's the exact sentiment being echoed by a lot of people on NFL Radio. I think people seeing this as "no big deal" are going to be in for a surprise@"supafreak84" said:you are looking at it from a 1 year aspect, wasnt Cook due the same or more money next year as well? I really like DC, but his play last year was so Jeckyl and Hyde that I am fine with them moving on from him on that deal. I also like Mattisons running style, he isnt going to break as many, but he also isnt going to have as many negative runs. just because I dont see the plan, doesnt mean I dont think there is one. This is only year two so I am going to sit back and see where things are this time next year before I go blasting away on KAM.@"JimmyinSD" said:I wonder what the number was the Vikings wanted on a reduction? Regardless, wouldn't you rather have Dalvin Cook in the backfield instead of the handful of chicken shit contracts we signed players to in free agency? If the choice was between giving Dalvin Cook his money, or using that money to sign Oliver, Lowry, and Mattison in free agency....would the obvious choice not be Dalvin Cook and what he does for the offense? I just don't understand this move and it's another log on the wtf fire for this front office.@"supafreak84" said:I am wondering if this isnt Kwesi of trying to at least get a low ball offer on the table once multiple teams are linked to DC, but honestly if the team needs his cap saving to get JJ into a new deal, vs back loading JJs deal and possibly ending up having to cut him in a couple years when they have other new more pressing contracts to work into the cap, I would rather take the kicking now in a year where many dont expect much than risk losing JJ or others when we should be on the cusp of something better.@"ArizonaViking" said:The Minnesota Vikings are expected to officially release running back Dalvin Cook on Friday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source. Cook and the team have long been rumored to be heading their separate ways this offseason. The 27-year-old RB has 5,993 career rushing yards and 47 touchdowns, plus another 1,794 receiving yards and five scores on 221 receptions in six seasons, all with the Vikings.Wonderful. Let's cut him for nothing. Great job Kwesi
@"supafreak84" said:unless one of the young guys really steps up this year at QB, I dont see this as Cousins last year. I dont think that because I think he can get the job done, I think that because they dont have anybody else they think could get the job done. at least with Cousins they can sell hope, and once again, with Cousins, you are going to be needing more cap space so no point in spending on DC when he would be done after this year regardless.@"JimmyinSD" said:Yes I'm looking at it from a one year perspective because it's the last year Cousins is under contract, we have no contingency plan, and if we are going all in trying to win it this year then give me Dalvin Cook in the backfield. We are not a better team with Mattison, Chandler, or whomever else you want to throw back there as the featured runner. Defensive coordinators will sleep a lot better at night not having to account for Dalvin Cook when they play the Vikings and that's the exact sentiment being echoed by a lot of people on NFL Radio. I think people seeing this as "no big deal" are going to be in for a surprise@"supafreak84" said:you are looking at it from a 1 year aspect, wasnt Cook due the same or more money next year as well? I really like DC, but his play last year was so Jeckyl and Hyde that I am fine with them moving on from him on that deal. I also like Mattisons running style, he isnt going to break as many, but he also isnt going to have as many negative runs. just because I dont see the plan, doesnt mean I dont think there is one. This is only year two so I am going to sit back and see where things are this time next year before I go blasting away on KAM.@"JimmyinSD" said:I wonder what the number was the Vikings wanted on a reduction? Regardless, wouldn't you rather have Dalvin Cook in the backfield instead of the handful of chicken shit contracts we signed players to in free agency? If the choice was between giving Dalvin Cook his money, or using that money to sign Oliver, Lowry, and Mattison in free agency....would the obvious choice not be Dalvin Cook and what he does for the offense? I just don't understand this move and it's another log on the wtf fire for this front office.@"supafreak84" said:I am wondering if this isnt Kwesi of trying to at least get a low ball offer on the table once multiple teams are linked to DC, but honestly if the team needs his cap saving to get JJ into a new deal, vs back loading JJs deal and possibly ending up having to cut him in a couple years when they have other new more pressing contracts to work into the cap, I would rather take the kicking now in a year where many dont expect much than risk losing JJ or others when we should be on the cusp of something better.@"ArizonaViking" said:The Minnesota Vikings are expected to officially release running back Dalvin Cook on Friday, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source. Cook and the team have long been rumored to be heading their separate ways this offseason. The 27-year-old RB has 5,993 career rushing yards and 47 touchdowns, plus another 1,794 receiving yards and five scores on 221 receptions in six seasons, all with the Vikings.Wonderful. Let's cut him for nothing. Great job Kwesi
@"supafreak84" said:We are not going all in this year. We’re doing a rolling rebuild. We’re cutting players that aren’t in our future plans and/or that cost too much for their value or positional value. I assume we’re targeting 2024 and beyond as our window with 2023 being a singular down year. The Vikings aren’t committed to burning it down prior to building it up, and this extends to Cousins. While I think they clearly want to get a quality young stud at QB, I don’t think they actually want Cousins to leave before that happens, but they also don’t want to extend him long term so much that it cuts into the benefits of having a young QB. I think you’ll see them extend Cousins for 2024 and 2025 after they deal with Jefferson and Hunter. I’d be surprised if a viable trade happens.@"JimmyinSD" said: ... Yes I'm looking at it from a one year perspective because it's the last year Cousins is under contract, we have no contingency plan, and if we are going all in trying to win it this year then give me Dalvin Cook in the backfield. We are not a better team with Mattison, Chandler, or whomever else you want to throw back there as the featured runner. Defensive coordinators will sleep a lot better at night not having to account for Dalvin Cook when they play the Vikings and that's the exact sentiment being echoed by a lot of people on NFL Radio. I think people seeing this as "no big deal" are going to be in for a surprise
@"medaille" said:@"supafreak84" said:We are not going all in this year. We’re doing a rolling rebuild. We’re cutting players that aren’t in our future plans and/or that cost too much for their value or positional value. I assume we’re targeting 2024 and beyond as our window with 2023 being a singular down year. The Vikings aren’t committed to burning it down prior to building it up, and this extends to Cousins. While I think they clearly want to get a quality young stud at QB, I don’t think they actually want Cousins to leave before that happens, but they also don’t want to extend him long term so much that it cuts into the benefits of having a young QB. I think you’ll see them extend Cousins for 2024 and 2025 after they deal with Jefferson and Hunter. I’d be surprised if a viable trade happens.@"JimmyinSD" said: ... Yes I'm looking at it from a one year perspective because it's the last year Cousins is under contract, we have no contingency plan, and if we are going all in trying to win it this year then give me Dalvin Cook in the backfield. We are not a better team with Mattison, Chandler, or whomever else you want to throw back there as the featured runner. Defensive coordinators will sleep a lot better at night not having to account for Dalvin Cook when they play the Vikings and that's the exact sentiment being echoed by a lot of people on NFL Radio. I think people seeing this as "no big deal" are going to be in for a surprise
I question the logic of the rolling rebuild then and just how effective you can ultimately turn over a roster without a franchise QB in place. To me that's just not how the Vikings are currently set up and we will continue to flounder in mediocrity under this model.Like I said, it will be an interesting case study between the Vikings and the Bears to see which rebuild model proves to be more successful. My money would be on the Bears, who turned their one year tank into a ton of free agent dollars and the #1 overall pick which they parlayed for future draft capital. Meanwhile the Vikings will probably be picking between 15-21 and still be playing the shell game with cap dollars and future dead money
Life of an NFL RB in 2023…
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) June 8, 2023
Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette are all free agents.
Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs have not signed their franchise tag tenders yet.
The position from a financial standpoint is not what it once was.
@"1VikesFan" said: https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1666816146983759878?t=kwP-zJdi7vwBtWhywrjqBQ&s=19Pretty brutal to put Kareem Hunt and Cook in the same category or to consider him a premier RB, no relevancy at all.
@"JR44" said:possiblyPossibly but the rest are definitely relevant@"1VikesFan" said: https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1666816146983759878?t=kwP-zJdi7vwBtWhywrjqBQ&s=19 Pretty brutal to put Kareem Hunt and Cook in the same category or to consider him a premier RB, no relevancy at all.
Cap hits for each leading rusher on the last 9 Super Bowl Champions...
— Adam Patrick (@adampatrickNFL) June 9, 2023
2022: $725K
2021: $1.8M
2020: $1.9M
2019: $1.7M
2018: $1.8M
2017: $1.3M
2016: $1M
2015: $943K
2014: $272K
@"MaroonBells" said: https://twitter.com/Str8_Cash_Homey/status/1667317410251304961?s=20Yup its eye opening, crazy even...
I would have love to have kept Cook maybe one more season - but I dont think there is a JJ extension (or Hunter) if he's here.
@"purplefaithful" said:@"MaroonBells" said: https://twitter.com/Str8_Cash_Homey/status/1667317410251304961?s=20 Yup its eye opening, crazy even...I would have love to have kept Cook maybe one more season - but I dont think there is a JJ extension (or Hunter) if he's here.
Love Dalvin. Fully supported his contract extension three years ago. Despite the NFL trending away from the RB position, it was the right decision based on where the Vikings were in their window.But things have changed. The money's just too high for a team trying to align cost and benefit.
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