What is next for the Vikings after cutting Dalvin Cook?
Dalvin Cook's impending release continues an offseason of upheaval for the Vikings and there are still moves left to make.
Cook's release clears $9 million in cap space, bringing Minnesota up to $18 million in available money to use.
So what's next? Let's take a look at the options for the Vikings front office.
Extensions
There are several stars in need of new deals that the Vikings' new cap space can help make those happen.
The biggest of the pending deals is for Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson is arguably the best receiver in the league and coming off an 1,800-yard season. The 24-year-old receiver is heading into Year 4 of his rookie contract in which he's set to make $2.3 million, with a fifth-year option set to net him $19.7 million in 2024.
"It would make more sense to use the open space to bump some of the extension money from Jefferson, [T.J.] Hockenson and maybe [Danielle] Hunter into this year rather than loading up bigger cap hits down the road," says Purple Insider's Matthew Coller.
Jefferson isn't the only young star on the roster awaiting a new contract. Hockenson is in the final year of his rookie deal and after an impressive half-season with the Vikings he's set for a top-end tight end deal.
After trading a second-round pick to the Lions the Vikings will most likely want to get more than a year and a half of service before losing Hockenson for nothing.
The other player looking for a better deal is Danielle Hunter.
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday the Vikings were fielding trade calls for the 29-year-old pass rusher after being unable to work out a "band-aid deal."
After years of taking below-market deals to remain in Minnesota, it's unlikely Hunter will want anything less than a top-of-the-market contract. If that's the case, it's possible the Vikings decide to take what they can get for Hunter and clear even more cap space.
Trade
If the Vikings decide to act on one of those trade calls for Hunter, it will clear an extra $5.5 million to extend Jefferson and/or Hockenson.
A trade will most likely bring a return of draft capital which the Vikings will need if they plan on being able to move up in next year's draft for a top QB to replace Kirk Cousins.
A Hunter trade would leave the Vikings quite bare at pass rusher after seeing Za'Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson both join the Browns via free agency and a trade, respectively.
Free agency
"They could also look at adding a remaining free agent," said Coller.
As pointed out earlier, moving on from Cook leaves the Vikings with a little over $18 million to use to fill out the roster with more depth.
Looking at who is still available, this seems like the least likely route for the Vikings.
Sure, DeAndre Hopkins is out there but with that monster extension coming for Jefferson, and using a first-round pick on receiver Jordan Addison, it seems wildly unlikely that the Vikings would dish out a large chunk of cash for a 30-year-old receiver.
If the Vikings are looking to add some veteran defensive players on short term deals, guys like Marcus Peters, Jadeveon Clowney and Yannick Ngakoue could be interesting to a defense that has seen a lot of veteran players leave this offseason.
"However, I see this move's biggest benefit as simply giving more opportunity for the running backs they have drafted recently," continued Coller.
Cook's departure is clearly a good thing for Alexander Mattison, Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu and rookie seventh-round pick DeWayne McBride.
Minnesota has spent a remarkable amount of draft capital over the past couple seasons on the running back position and Cook's departure gives those players the opportunity to stake their claim as the next Vikings starting running back.
