Odds of Dalvin Cook extension higher after 2020 NFL Draft

With the decisions made by the Minnesota Vikings during the 2020 NFL Draft, the chances of Dalvin Cook getting extended this offseason increased even higher.

In his third season with the Minnesota Vikings, Dalvin Cook proved why the team has continued to shift their offensive focus to one that maximizes his opportunities.

Cook finished last year with 1,654 total yards (1,135 rushing, 519 receiving) and 13 touchdowns on 303 touches. His performance ended up earning him the first Pro Bowl invite of his career, something that will likely be a common occurrence during the rest of his time in the NFL.

Since he was drafted in the second round back in 2017, Cook’s rookie contract with the Vikings is only for four years, meaning his current deal is set to expire in 2021. Minnesota likely won’t let the running back hit free agency next year and the guys over at Bleeding Purple explained why during their most recent episode.

First, they pointed out that the odds of Cook receiving an extension from the Vikings in the near future are even higher now after the decisions the team made during the recent 2020 NFL Draft.

Minnesota had a whopping 15 picks during this year’s draft and not a single one was a running back. The Vikings also signed 12 undrafted free agents following the draft and none of these players were running backs either.

So if Minnesota was truly looking to move on from Cook after the upcoming season, then they would’ve added a new piece for their offensive backfield during this year’s draft. Instead, the Vikings used one of their top draft picks on an offensive tackle in Ezra Cleveland to help create even more running lanes for the team’s top rusher.

Following their additions from this year’s draft, Minnesota is projected to have around $8.5 million in cap space after all of their rookie deals are completed. With possible future moves that could include a Riley Reiff restructure and a new contract for Anthony Harris, this amount could potentially increase even more.

The Vikings will have more than enough space to give an extension to Cook this year. Whenever the deal is signed, it will likely come with a 2020 cap hit that is similar to the $7.8 million cap hit that Christian McCaffrey now has for next season after his recent extension from the Carolina Panthers.

At this point, it’s only just a matter of time until Cook and Minnesota agree to a new contract that extends his time in purple and gold.

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