6 free-agent tight ends the Vikings could sign in 2021
By Dean Jones
Jared Cook
The New Orleans Saints are up against it from a salary-cap perspective this offseason. Considering they gave up a significant amount of draft capital in 2020 to the Vikings so that they could select promising tight end Adam Trautman, it probably means veteran Jared Cook will not be returning.
This would be an intriguing option considering Cook’s athleticism and ability to get open quickly. There is the obvious problem of fumbling the ball in critical moments, but Minnesota could use someone with his sort of skill set on a short-term deal while Irv Smith Jr. acclimates to the No. 1 spot if Kyle Rudolph is sent elsewhere.
The two-time Pro Bowler is coming off a 2020 campaign where he brought in 37 receptions from 54 targets on his way to 504 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Cook’s supreme physical frame enables him to be a huge threat in the red-zone, which would be a big asset to have if Rudolph and the Vikings eventually decided that a fresh start was needed.
As the case will be with every decision Minnesota makes over the next few weeks, it will come down to the financial aspect more than anything. Cook appears to have plenty left in the tank, but whether he wants to end up on a team with a more realistic chance of competing for a Super Bowl in the latter stages of his career is up for debate.