Utilize Cook in the slot
Running back Dalvin Cook is the jewel in the Vikings’ crown and the more he sees of the ball, the better.
Cook enjoyed a phenomenal 2019 season, but he found options limited once a defense thwarted his running threat and forced the game into the hands of quarterback Kirk Cousins. Minnesota having the former second-round pick operate in the slot more in 2020 is an intriguing proposition and one that deserves some consideration.
Whether Cook’s route-running ability would prevent this is up for debate. One thing that is no longer a concern is his ability to catches passes consistently for notable gains thanks to the substantial improvements he made last season.
If Cook can sharpen up his ability to get open in passing situations during the offseason then this becomes a viable option for Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak to utilize. It would also allow the running back to feature more prominently when things are not going Minnesota’s way.
Cook has been mostly reliant on wheel routes and screens to acquire yards during his career so far. Having him in the slot would give defenses something different to think about and allow Kubiak to get more creative with an offense that was all too predictable at times last season.
Should this come into play and become a success for the Vikings, then Cook may also use this as another bargaining tool in his upcoming contract negotiations.