New info could point to Dalvin Cook remaining with the Vikings in 2023

Since the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft earlier this month, the future of running back Dalvin Cook has certainly dominated the headlines for the Minnesota Vikings.

Heading into this year's draft, most would have bet on Cook not suiting up for the Vikings next season. But recently, the chances of the running back staying with Minnesota for the 2023 campaign seem to be higher than they have all offseason.

There haven't been any reports about Cook wanting to do whatever he can to leave the Vikings this year, and on Friday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler shared that the running back "loves Minnesota." But Fowler also reported that Cook is open to "a fresh start" if the Vikings choose to part ways with him in the near future.

How badly does Dalvin Cook want to remain with the Minnesota Vikings?

In addition to Fowler's report, another potential clue about Cook's future in Minnesota was revealed in the form of a charity softball roster.

On Friday, the Thielen Foundation revealed their rosters for this summer's charity softball game, and Cook is one of the Vikings offensive players that are listed to appear.

It could mean nothing, and things could change before the charity event takes place on May 31st, but the chances seem low that Cook would participate if he felt that his time with the Vikings has already come to an end.

The tone from Cook's representation has also changed recently and that could be another indication of the running back potentially remaining in Minnesota for the upcoming season.

Before the 2023 NFL Draft in April, Cook's agent, Zac Hiller of LAA Sports & Entertainment, called the Vikings "mediocre" and basically declared that the performance of the team has prevented the running back from becoming more notable in the league.

Recently, however, Hiller was a guest on "The Straight Line" podcast with former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf, and when Cook's agent was asked about his client's status with Minnesota, he simply stated, "he's under contract with the Vikings" and that he doesn't "get into the speculation and what not."

It's not hard to believe that Cook and his representation thought that the chances were pretty high heading into this year's NFL Draft that he would be playing elsewhere in 2023. But since the draft, it seems like the running back might have realized that one of his best options to make the biggest impact next season is with Minnesota.

June 1st (when some teams clear up additional cap space) and June 13th (the start of the Vikings' mandatory mini-camp) are the two dates to pay attention to when it comes to Cook's future in Minnesota.

Once we get past these two dates, we should have a pretty good indication of where the running back will be playing in 2023.