Minnesota Vikings Training Camp 2020: Previewing the Running Backs
By Chris Schad
The Starter
Dalvin Cook
I almost wanted to put a question mark beside Cook’s name, because we don’t know how things are going to go with his negotiations for a new contract. What we do know is that when Cook is on the field, he can make big things happen for the Vikings offense.
One of the biggest reasons that the Vikings would want to sign Cook is because of his ability to be a dynamic threat. Cook enjoyed a career year in 2019, running for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns and was an adequate piece of the passing game, catching 53 passes for 519 yards.
Those stats look great, but his role in the receiving game was predicated on what he could do with the ball in his hands. Cook led the NFL among qualifying backs last season with 11.3 yards per reception after the catch. While nobody is going to mistake Cook for Christian McCaffrey or Austin Ekeler, the Vikings could do worse with a pass-catching back.
The issue with Cook of course is his health. Even though he played in a career-high 14 games last season, he left two of them early due to injury and needed to sit out the final two games including an important divisional loss to Green Bay.
Do the Vikings need Cook to have an effective offense? Probably not. Is it better with him a part of it? You bet.
The Vikings love to keep their homegrown talent around, so it wouldn’t be shocking if Cook and the Vikings came to a compromise on a new contract. If they’re unable to do so, Minnesota will have to have a viable ‘Plan B.’