According to multiple reports across the league, the Minnesota Vikings have received trade offers for running back Dalvin Cook. The former second-round pick currently carries a $14.1 million cap hit, and the cashed-strapped Vikings might consider trading him to one of the following five teams.
Report: The #Vikings have received trade offer for RB Dalvin Cook, per @DWolfsonKSTP
Dalvin Cook isn't interested in taking a pay-cut, according to Wolfson. pic.twitter.com/J36NVyZlzw
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 9, 2023
Read More: Derrick Henry Trade Destinations
Top 5 Dalvin Cook Trade Destinations, Ranked
Buffalo Bills
Regardless of what happens with Stefon Diggs, the Buffalo Bills need to add some talent at the running back position. Devin Singletary is going to be a free agent, and former second-round pick James Cook is better off as a change of pace back. Acquiring Dalvin Cook via trade would immediately fix their backfield woes, and putting the two Cook brothers on the same team would make for a great storyline.
Kansas City Chiefs
After winning the Super Bowl, it’s safe to say that the Kansas City Chiefs don’t exactly need more help on offense. That being said, the team probably doesn’t want to rely on Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon so heavily next year, and Andy Reid hasn’t had a running back capable of playing on all three downs since Kareem Hunt. Adding a playmaker like Cook could would make an already-dangerous offense all the more lethal and set the Chiefs up to be the first team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since the 2003-2004 Patriots.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles do not need an elite running back to have an elite rushing attack. Jalen Hurts is such a threat on the ground that his presence alone allows mediocre talents like Miles Sanders to produce at above-average level. With that in mind, it stands to reason that somebody as talented as Cook could absolutely destroy defenses in this offense.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins running back room is going to look a lot different in 2023. Chase Edmunds didn’t even last the season, and Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are both free agents. The Dolphins need somebody capable of running the ball, and there aren’t many better at it than Cook. Additionally, the Dolphins appear to be commuted to Tua Tagovailoa for at least one more year, which means they should try to limit his hits by improving the run game.
Carolina Panthers
Unlike every other team on this list, the Carolina Panthers do not stand a realistic shot at the Super Bowl in 2023, so why would they trade for Dalvin Cook? Well, the answer is simple: they need somebody to take pressure off of their rookie quarterback. The Panthers are going to draft one of the passers from the 2023 NFL Draft class, and early reports indicate that the team loves Anthony Richardson. Some organizations believe that the best way to take pressure off a youn quarterback is by investing in the run game, and the Panthers seem like a team that would do that. After all, this is the organization that handed out a boatload of money to Christian McCaffrey, and the same head coach that ran Jonathan Taylor into the ground in 2021.
Main Photo: Jeffrey Becker – USA Today Sports
