6 free-agent running backs the Vikings could sign in 2020
By Dean Jones
Melvin Gordon
If a situation arises this offseason that results in Dalvin Cook’s relationship with the Vikings becoming damaged, then the organization will have to potentially look for a replacement due to his impending departure.
Minnesota losing their best offensive weapon is the worst-case scenario for the team this year. One would think it won’t come to this between Cook and the Vikings and an agreement can be made to avoid the use of a franchise tag once his rookie contract comes to an end in 2021.
Should Minnesota make a bold move and inexplicably decide to trade Cook this offseason, then they will need to make a free-agency splash at the position to get the fans back on their side.
Melvin Gordon might have had a down year in 2019 with the Los Angeles Chargers. But that might have been due to his failed holdout which caused him to miss the first four games of the season.
There is no doubt that Gordon is still one of the premier players at the running back position in the NFL and Minnesota could only get someone of this caliber if Cook ends up departing. Even then, that might not be enough to land Gordon given his current estimated market value that has him potentially earning an average of $11.7 million per year.
Although it is extremely unlikely he ends up with the Vikings this offseason, Gordon may have a new home next season thanks to the exceptional play of Chargers running back Austin Ekeler in 2019. Ekeler enjoyed the best campaign of his career last season and he emerged as arguably the best pass-catching back in the league.
Add Gordon’s problems of holding on to the ball in the latter part of the year to all of this and Los Angeles has a huge decision to make with Ekeler also a being a restricted free agent this offseason.