Vikings and Dolphins 'Came Very Close' to a Dalvin Cook Trade in March

Because a deal didn't happen, Cook's future in Minnesota remains uncertain.

Back in March, the Vikings and Dolphins "came very close" to a trade that would've sent Dalvin Cook to Miami, according to SI's Albert Breer. A deal didn't get done, it's now June, and Cook remains on the Vikings' roster despite a very uncertain future. He'll either eventually be traded or released — or take a pay cut to stick around in Minnesota.

"What’s interesting about the deal that fell apart then is how the vision the team trading for him dovetails with how the team trading him away sees him," Breer wrote.

The idea, for Miami, was to add another big-play threat to an arsenal that already has two of the game’s most explosive receivers, in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, in the holster. And after that one came undone, and as Minnesota contemplated a price it’d be comfortable bringing Cook back at (which would be less than the $11 million he’s due), the Vikings discussed using him more sparingly, as an explosive complement to Alexander Mattison.

Minnesota also drafted DeWayne McBride in the seventh round, and the Vikings like him as another depth piece, alongside Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu, to give more flexibility in their decision-making on Cook.

Would Miami still be interested? Maybe, though that desire for a big-play back was, at least to some degree, addressed in the third round of the draft, with ultra-explosive Texas A&M back Devon Achane coming in.

The reason it would be surprising if Cook remains a Viking this season is that the team has seemingly been preparing for his departure for months. They re-signed Mattison and have treated him like the starter this offseason. They drafted McBride. If Cook were to return and take on a reduced role, that would be a potentially awkward situation for everyone involved. Previously, Mattison has only had a sizable role when Cook has been injured.

Even though the Dolphins added Achane to a backfield featuring Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., they shouldn't be counted out entirely as a possible Cook trade partner. That's a team with eyes on contending for a Super Bowl this year, and they could find a way to involve a four-time Pro Bowl running back in their offense.

Perhaps a resolution to the Cook situation will finally come this week.

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