Dolphins insider says Dalvin Cook to Miami 'is a real possibility'
The Dalvin Cook drama continues to play out for the Minnesota Vikings and it appears the Pro Bowl running back's dream of playing for his hometown team might not be dead after all.
The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson reported in his OTA notebook that "it's a real possibility" that Cook could wind up with the Miami Dolphins, but it's not a done deal because the Dolphins would only pursue Cook if he's released by the Vikings.
"I have been led to believe it's not a done deal," Jackson wrote. "Could Cook end up here? Absolutely. It's certainly a really possibility if he's cut by Minnesota. There would be interest on both sides. But from my understanding, there's not some secret agreement between the parties."
The drama between the Vikings and Cook has multiple layers as the Vikings want to trade Cook but can't find a trade partner due to the $10.4 million guaranteed salary he's set to make this season. While Jackson says the Dolphins have interest and would likely make a run at Cook if he were to hit the market, they wouldn't do so at his current salary.
Jackson also reported that the Vikings haven't allowed Cook to talk with other teams about restructuring his current deal, which would seem to be another hurdle in a potential trade.
The Vikings could save $9 million by releasing Cook as a post-June 1 cut, but they're not in a position where they need to create cap space even ahead of potential contract extensions for Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson.
In a perfect world, Minnesota would prefer to get something in return and Jackson hints that the Vikings could potentially hold onto Cook through training camp to see if a deal materializes, or even sign him to a reduced deal to keep him for the 2023 season.
"It's not certain that the Vikings will release Cook if they remain unsuccessful in finding a trade partner," Jackson wrote. "He could conceivably agree to a pay cut or the Vikings could hold onto him into training camp, hoping a trade option becomes available if a team loses its starting running back due to injury."
With the Vikings re-signing Alexander Mattison to a two-year deal in free agency and selecting UAB running back DeWayne McBride in the seventh round of this year's draft, it seems like Cook's departure will happen one way or the other. But the Vikings are willing to play the long game, which is why they have not publicly committed to either outcome.
"[The Vikings] unwillingness to publicly or privately commit to keeping Cook seems purely motivated by irritation to spend that amount of money on a position that has been devalued by some teams," Jackson said. "But that irritation hasn't triggered his release, at least not yet."
