Talks Break Off Between Vikings & RB Dalvin Cook

According to Tom Pelissero, talks have broken off between the Vikings and RB Dalvin Cook on an extension. 

Cook is entering the final year of his rookie deal and Minnesota has been careful with him in practice while the two sides negotiate. Expect the team to ramp Cook back up now. 

Though negotiations could always pick back up, Cook says he’s turning his focus toward Week 1 and the 2020 season. 

ESPN’s Courtney Cronin previously reported that Cook would gladly accept an offer in the $13 million per year range. 

Cronin added that Minnesota’s initial offers have been below $10 million a year, which Cook’s camp does not view as “reasonable.” 

According to Cronin, Cook’s camp has come down slightly from its request for north of the $16 million per year Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey is making in his record deal. The Vikings didn’t want to be anywhere in that ballpark. 

The Athletic’s Chad Graff wrote that so far Cook has been asking for a salary that would put him in the top three at his position. Based on what’s been reported, $13 million per year would be close to the middle from where both sides started.

Cook, 24, is a former second-round pick of the Vikings back in 2017. He’s currently in the third year of his four-year, $6.35 million contract and set to make a base salary of $1.13 million for the 2020 season. 

In 2019, Cook has appeared in 14 games for the Vikings and rushed for 1,135 yards on 250 carries (4.5 YPC) with 13 touchdowns to go along with 53 receptions for 519 yards receiving.

We’ll have more regarding Cook and the Vikings as the news is available.