The Minnesota Vikings have amassed a stable of young talent over the past two years, though several of those players have barely had a chance to showcase their skills.

Safety Lewis Cine is at the top of that list after suffering a compound fracture to his leg in Week 4 of last season against the New Orleans Saints. The injury cost him the remainder his rookie campaign and required two surgeries to fully repair.

Minnesota selected Cine with the No. 32 overall pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but he appeared in just three games and played only two snaps on defense during those contests, per Pro Football Reference. Cine saw the field for a total of 34 special teams snaps before breaking his leg.

Cine’s rehabilitation appears to be coming along swimmingly based on training videos the safety posted to social media in February, which can be viewed on YouTube courtesy of the Purple FTW! Podcast.

Lewis Cine Primed for Larger Role With Vikings Secondary Under New Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores

GettySafety Lewis Cine of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before an NFL game against the Detroit Lions in September 2022.

That Cine wasn’t ready to jump into a starting role as a rookie, even before he was injured, is mildly concerning. However, NFL defenses are complicated, and players learn in different ways and at different speeds.

Cine has had the entire offseason to study the game in general, as well as to watch tape of opponents and work with head coach Kevin O’Connell’s defensive staff during practice and meeting sessions. The learning curve might reset to a degree with the arrival of Brian Flores as the Vikings’ new defensive coordinator, but that alone doesn’t mean Cine can’t explode onto the scene in a real way during his sophomore season.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report on Sunday, June 25, named Cine a top-eight breakout candidate among second-year players who have been “forgotten” for one reason or another, to one degree or another, after unimpressive rookie campaigns.

“While the second-year man may still be stuck behind Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum at safety, he should see the field more as a sophomore,” Knox wrote. “He could also have a real opportunity to shine as a rotational player under new defensive coordinator Brian Flores. If Flores is going to use a more aggressive and diversified scheme than predecessor Ed Donatell, Cine could be a huge part of it.”

Lewis Cine Offers Optimistic Outlook Heading into Second NFL Season With Vikings

GettySafety Lewis Cine of the Minnesota Vikings participates in training camp drills in August 2022.

Regardless of how the Minnesota Vikings frame it, rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison will be viewed as the de-facto replacement to longtime franchise favorite Adam Thielen.

Selected 22nd overall in the draft, Addison’s arrival came after the Vikings released Thielen to offload his $20 million cap hit for the upcoming season. Thielen, 33,  has lost a step from his Pro Bowl days but still landed a three-year, $25 million contract with the Carolina Panthers after his release.

Appearing on “NFL Total Access” on June 22, the question of “replacing” Thielen surfaced. Addison admitted he hasn’t been fueled by narrative but also didn’t step down from the challenge.

“I ain’t going to get into it too much, comparing,” Addison said when asked whether he sees himself as a more dynamic receiver than Thielen. “I just know what I can do. I’m confident, and I am going to fill his shoes.”

Jordan Addison, Adam Thielen’s Similar Skillsets

While Addison didn’t want to focus on the comparisons to Thielen, it is inevitable as a first-round selection a month after Thielen’s departure.

Although Thielen is bigger and had more top-end speed in his prime, Addison’s polished route tree will give him the ability to step in and be as diverse of a route runner as Thielen.

Addison won the Biletnikoff Trophy primarily as a slot receiver at Pitt in 2021 but evolved his game his senior season at USC, seeing 63% of his targets when lined up outside, according to The 33rd Team.

Although Addison lacks the size and speed to be a go-route, deep-ball threat, he excels at maintaining the same speed coming in and out of his breaks. That should bode well against non-premier corners that he should face with the attention Justin Jefferson garners.

The two routes he was most effective running at USC were the corner and post routes, which the Vikings deployed more often than the league average.

“Addison’s addition means the team has even more options to move the ball downfield effectively,” The 33rd Team’s Jordan Vanek wrote. “Addison’s college experience as a successful route runner on these two routes bodes well for him to become a deep-threat player in the Vikings’ offense.”

Addison has already proved he can win in the slot and his ability to win deep last season at USC shows that teams will have to respect his side of the field at all three levels.

“Addison played in the slot and out wide during his college years. This bodes well for how the O’Connell system will utilize him, and it gives the Vikings a player that can win effectively on these routes that require you not to lose speed in and out of breaks,” Vanek wrote. “Jefferson gets a player that allows him to work more freely and possibly avoid double coverage.”

Jordan Addison Expected to Be a Full Go at Training Camp After Undisclosed Injury

Addison was dealing with an undisclosed injury through minicamps but is expected to be a full go come training camp in July, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell.

“We’ve had a plan in place for him and continuing to kind of build up to where he’ll be,” O’Connell said in June 13 media conference. “He’ll be spending quite a bit of time continuing his playbook. He’s been phenomenal in meetings and out here asking great questions when they come up.

“But my expectation is that Jordan will be full when we get going in late July.”

While Addison wasn’t running as many drills as fans would like to see during spring minicamps, he’s spent the time studying Justin Jefferson on the field.

“Oh, man, it’s just been all learning for me, not too much talking,” he said. “Just out there on the field watching what he do and just trying to pick his brain to see why he wants to run his routes the way he do,” Addison told “NFL Total Access.”

After failing to reach an agreement on a contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, quarterback Kirk Cousins revealed that he plans to not engage in any more contract talks with the team until March.

Unless the Vikings make him an offer he can’t refuse until then, Cousins intends to entertain free agency, where two old friends and NFC contenders are expected to engage in a “tug of war” for the four-time Pro Bowler — The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.

“I think you’re going to see — unless the Vikings re-sign him by then, and they can’t use the franchise tag on him, the way his contract is structured — you’re going to see a potential tug of war between Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay for Kirk Cousins next March,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said June 22 on “The Rich Eisen Show.” “Mark that down.”

Shanahan and McVay worked with Cousins in Washington as many of the league’s brightest offensive minds came up under the Shanahan coaching tree with Cousins executing their offense.

Los Angeles and San Francisco have ideal situations that could lure Cousins away from Minnesota after the Vikings declined to take a hometown discount from the veteran quarterback last spring.

 Why Vikings Declined Hometown Discount With Kirk Cousins

Cousins’ reputation proceeds him as the recipient of some of the largest contracts in NFL history.

He’s earned over $159 million the past five seasons with the Vikings, the largest by any player in the league. However, after leading the league with eight game-winning drives last season, Cousins didn’t test the waters of how much he could get with quarterback annual earnings exceeding $50 million.

Apparently, he wanted three more seasons in Minnesota and was willing to take a discount, Star Tribune reporters Ben Goessling and Andrew Krammer revealed on the Access Vikings podcast.

“The sense I’ve gotten is that they didn’t want to commit as long as what he was looking for. They wanted something shorter, he wanted something longer. My understanding is that 2025 was the issue,” Goessling said. “The question of how long would everyone guarantee it for. I think he wanted ’25, they were like ‘Well, we don’t want to commit that long.’ He’d be 37 before the 2025 season so it gets to be later in the game than you want to fully guarantee a quarterback deal.”

Krammer added that Cousins was willing to take a discount despite an inflated quarterback market that saw New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones secure a deal worth over $40 million a year.

“I had also heard that he wasn’t asking for $40 [million],” Krammer added. “He wasn’t asking for that much, in terms of what Daniel Jones got, who is obviously much younger but much less accomplished. Cousins’ camp was kind of surprised I guess, from what I heard, at the Vikings not jumping or at least accepting what they were asking for.”

 Kirk Cousins to Go Where He’s Wanted Long-Term

Throughout the tenure of his career, Cousins has largely been the guy teams have stuck with yet rarely committed to.

Other than his three-year, $84 million contract he signed to join the Vikings in 2018, he’s largely had to go back to the bartering table in one- to two-year intervals.

Cousins, who turns 35 in August, is looking for one more long-term deal, which the new regime in Minnesota. has not shown they’re willing to offer.

If another suitor can give Cousins a three-year deal, his loyalties to the purple and gold may be pushed aside for long-term security in the twilight of his career.

The Minnesota Vikings have a handful of expensive contract extensions on the horizon that may leave K.J. Osborn the odd man out next offseason.

Osborn, entering the final year of his rookie contract, has emerged as a reliable receiving threat in a loaded offense that has numerous stars who need to be paid.

Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson are high priorities by the end of this season along with the possibility of Kirk Cousins seeing an extension as well.

Given the NFL increasingly valuing wide receivers, Osborn could find a lucrative contract elsewhere that the Vikings cannot match. Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller said on a June 19 episode of his podcast he doubts the Vikings would want to make him a competitive offer compared to what he could see in free agency.

“If you look back at what free agents made… if you’re even a decent player you’re going to get huge money that I doubt the Vikings want to pay K.J. Osborn,” Coller said, noting Adam Thielen‘s three-year, $25 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. “So [Osborn] could still be their No. 2 this year and then they just let him go because the price is too high.”

The Vikings drafting Jordan Addison in the first round is also a tell that they’re building to be comfortable at wide receiver and not need to splurge beyond Jefferson.

K.J. Osborn Sounds off on His Future With Vikings

GettyWide receiver K.J. Osborn of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game against the New York Giants in January 2023.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2020 draft, Osborn went from not seeing a single snap on offense his rookie season to emerging as a viable third option in the passing game.

Osborn has reeled in 110 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns over the past two seasons and is presumed to start the season as the No. 2 receiver.

“I do if I’m being completely honest with you,” Osborn said when asked if sees the 2023 season as a chance to become the team’s No. 2 wide receiver back in April. “I know it’s an opportunity. I know there’s stuff ahead. We could still bring guys on and things like that, but at least I can say I’m excited about the opportunity.”

Even with the arrival of Addison, wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell isn’t concerned with any shakiness from Osborn.

“He’s a guy that can handle adversity really well,” McCardell told Purple Insider. “He doesn’t let it break him. He steps up to the challenge. Now that everyone is saying that we drafted Jordan and we’re going to replace him…Us drafting Jordan adds fuel to his fire but he has to have the professionalism to teach [Jordan]. It’s part of how football is.”

K.J. Osborn Helps Save Man From Burning Car

While Osborn looks to leave his mark in Minnesota this upcoming season, the Vikings receiver made an impact last spring by rescuing a man from a burning car in Texas.

“Last night myself and these 3 absolute heroes helped save a man’s life by rescuing him from a vehicle up in flames after a bad crash. A situation I’d never imagine being a part of in a million years,” Osborn tweeted with photos from the night on March 5. “I’ll leave you with this. God is real. And His LOVE is real. He will send his angels to be camped around you and provide you with his grace and mercy.”

The man turned out to be Nelson Thomas, a reality TV star from MTV’s “The Challenge” and the two have stayed in contact since the accident.

“I want to thank [K.J.] for being on the scene and filming my rescue,” Thomas tweeted, adding that he is “forever grateful.”

After owning the worst scoring offense in the NFL last season, the Denver Broncos need to add as many weapons as they can if they want to contend for a fourth Lombardi Trophy sooner than later.

Rumblings have continued to surface about the Broncos adding another running back to their roster while Javonte Williams returns from his torn ACL.

During his radio show “Keyshawn, JWill, and Max,” on June 21, former NFL wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson named the Broncos as the best landing spot for former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook.

“I think when you look at what Sean Payton wants to do, he wants to get back to early age Russell Wilson with the Seahawks. Play defense, let him manage the football and run the ball extremely well.” Johnson continued, “You go back to Drew Brees and what he had every single year when he was cookin’ in New Orleans was they could run the football. That’s Sean Payton, he wants to run the football and do those things. When did Russell Wilson have early success in Seattle? They ran the football. He got a lot of the credit, but it was about defense and Marshawn Lynch. If they can land him that’ll help ’em a lot.”

Cook was released by the Vikings on June 9 due to money reasons after he was going to be owed a base salary of $10.4 million this upcoming season.

The 27-year-old has been voted to the Pro Bowl in each of his last four seasons averaging over 1,200 yards each season and over 10 trips to the endzone.

Broncos Have Reported Interest in Cook and Other RBs

On June 8, just one day before Cook was released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Broncos were one of two teams expected to have interest in the former Minnesota running back.

Schefter also mentioned that there were going to be other teams interested in Cook as well as the Miami Dolphins, but Denver has “been monitoring Cook for weeks.”

On June 7, Heavy’s very own Matt Lombardo reported that a league source told him, “Denver is definitely interested” in the former second-round pick out of Florida St.

Cook isn’t the only running back that they have been linked to in recent days.

On June 16, Jordan Schultz reported that Denver has been named as a possible suitor for former Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt.

“A scout told me that his pass protection alone elevates his value,” said Schultz.

Back on May 6, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported on Sports Center that the Broncos are “a team to watch” in the Hunt sweepstakes.

Update on Javonte Williams

On May 14, Payton spoke to the local media and gave some positive news surrounding Williams.

“We expect him to be ready for the start of training camp and that’s good news.” Payton continued, “His rehab is going well.”

If Williams is not ready for the start of training camp, he would have to the PUP list.

“We’re hopeful that he’s someone that might not have to go to PUP.”

Last season, Williams finished with just 204 rushing yards and 76 receiving and failed to find the endzone.

As a rookie, Williams proved that he could be the starting running back for the Broncos moving forward. The former North Carolina Tar Heel rushed for 903 yards and scored four touchdowns while ranking atop the NFL in broken tackles.

In April, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers‘ meeting talked Trey Lance at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

However, those talks did not seem to have gone far.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed on“The Pat McAfee Show” on June 21 that despite numerous reports of the 49ers fielding calls for Lance, none produced any substantive trade talks.

“There was no trade market and Kyle Shanahan has said that they didn’t have any trade talks with teams. He’s not going anywhere right now,” Schefter said.

The obvious trade proposal that was floated all offseason was a deal including Kirk Cousins and Lance. The flirtation between the 49ers and Cousins is well-documented and there were rumors at the combine of a potential trade involving Cousins.

Given Schefter’s latest report, a potential trade package for Cousins likely would not have included Lance. Either the Vikings were not in on Lance or the 49ers wanted too much in a trade for the former No. 3 pick.

 49ers Are Holding Tight Onto Trey Lance

Lance is in limbo after the 49ers traded three first-round picks to land the Minnesota native third overall in the 2021 draft. He earned the starting job to start the 2022 season but suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2.

Since then, the 49ers have had a revelation in seventh-round pick Brock Purdy, who is the presumptive starter, and made Sam Darnold a priority signing this offseason — spelling that Lance may become the third option in San Francisco’s quarterback room.

“Sam Darnold signed with the 49ers on the first day of free agency … that tells you that the team really liked that guy, and they really did like Sam Darnold. Let’s also be very clear that Brock Purdy, if he’s healthy, he’s the guy, he’s the starting quarterback, he’s the No. 1. If he’s not, if for some reason he can’t go, we’ll see how Darnold and Trey Lance do in camp this summer. My guess would be Darnold has a chance to really shine and excel.”

While San Francisco appears to be offloading its investment into Lance, the team’s unwillingness to pursue a trade could come from a place of pride.

“There’s legacy, there’s pride, there’s ego. There’s a lot of potential worry that you’re going to be viewed as a failure, especially when you trade a couple future first-round picks on it all,” McAfee said.

The 49ers’ timeline and Lance’s development have not aligned throughout his tenure. But the longer Lance sits the lower his value will become.

San Francisco may be hedging its hopes that Lance can overcome the competition in training camp, but if they remain stubborn in trade talks and get nothing from his stint, their decision could go down as one of the worst draft trades in recent memory — which the Vikings could use as leverage.

The Possibilities for Trey Lance in Minnesota

While the 49ers appear unwilling to trade Lance this season, another year of assessing their quarterback position could create the possibility of Lance being moved next offseason.

Lance’s $34 million rookie deal runs through the 2024 season and also includes a fifth-year option, which would cost roughly $20 million and is still inexpensive at the position.

Unless Lance plays this season, it’s unlikely Minnesota would exercise that option, but Lance has the potential of playing a prove-it season in Minnesota considering Cousins’ contract expires after this season.

Much has been made of the reasons behind the Minnesota Vikings releasing Dalvin Cook, who is coming off a fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance this year and showed he’s still one of the league’s most explosive backs.

It ultimately came down to finances. Cook was due a $10.4 million base salary that the new Vikings regime did not want to sink in at the running back position.

However, another wrinkle in the decision to move on from Cook was Kevin O’Connell’s hope for more consistency in the running game after Cook led the league with 62 rushes of zero or negative yards, per ESPN.

Appearing on The Adam Schefter Podcast on June 19, Cook addressed the changes to the offense in the first year under O’Connell, which didn’t necessarily benefit him as a runner.

“I’m a three-down back. Running the ball, outside zone, inside zone, that’s what I do. That’s my bread and butter. That’s not their scheme. They want to get the ball out wide to the guys outside, and they want to toss the ball around, and that’s not what I’m looking [for],” Cook said.

He added that he’s hoping to find a team that is willing to commit to the run game more as opposed to a more diverse scheme like O’Connell’s.

“I want somebody that’s going to ground and pound, and we’re going to make plays on the outside, and I’m going to help somebody win,” Cook said.

Cook’s agent also bad-mouthed the Vikings’ playcalling in the run game earlier this offseason. While Cook had his issues with the offense, he maintained his grace with the organization and expressed his understanding of the business decision to release him.

“The relationship between me K.O. [O’Connell], Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah]… it’s just love. I appreciate them coming in and being the people they was — just making sure that Dalvin Cook the person was okay every day when I walked in the building,” Cook said. They good people, I appreciate them so much, but the move was anticipated.”

Alexander Mattison Is Not the Answer for Vikings

GettyAlexander Mattison isn’t the complete answer for replacing Dalvin Cook.

While Alexander Mattison has proven effective in his starts replacing Cook, he’s not the full answer to solving the Vikings running game, which ranked 26th in yards per attempt (4.1) last season.

Mattison is a back that will largely take what he’s given and struggles to create in space like Cook can. Cook’s playmaking abilities were a double-edged sword last season given the number of times he was tackled behind the line of scrimmage.

The chart below shows both backs rushing yards over expected (RYOE) — a metric that grades every run on whether they gained more, less or what was expected compared to an average running back in the NFL.

Cook had a higher level of variance than Mattison, who cannot be expected to replace the explosives that Cook brought to the offense.

However, the goal this season is to create better situations on later downs by having more consistency in the running game. If that is achieved, the offense will be much harder to read with a stable of diverse running backs to deploy on third-and-short.

 Ty Chandler a Breakout Candidate for Vikings

GettySecond-year running back Ty Chandler is considered a breakout candidate for the Vikings in 2023.

After flashing promise as a fifth-round rookie in the 2022 preseason, Ty Chandler is garnering attention as a breakout candidate this season.

FantasyPros recently listed three second-year running backs who could see more playing time this season and is bullish on the North Carolina prospect.

“Do not discount the impact that a secondary option could have in the Vikings’ offense. Mattison is a three-down back, but Chandler offers a more explosive skillset that could play well off Mattison’s more traditional style,” FantasyPros wrote on June 9.

The Minnesota Vikings have moved on from Dalvin Cook and will attempt to replace his production by committee.

While Alexander Mattison is poised to be the lead back for the first time in his career, the Vikings have few proven options beyond the fifth-year back.

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, a former agent proposed Minnesota should sign veteran back J.D. McKissic, who could be acquired for the veteran minimum of $1.1 million for this season.

“Minnesota signaled with its release of Cook that it doesn’t intend to commit big money to the position, but new starter Alexander Mattison is owed just $2.4M in 2023, and his reserves are relatively unproven,” Benjamin wrote on June 20. “McKissic is a utility-type veteran best known for his pass catching, making him a potential plug-and-play third-down option out of camp.”

McKissic, 29, has proven to be one of the most productive pass-catching running backs in the league. Across the 2020 and 2021 seasons, McKissic reeled in 123 receptions for 986 receiving yards for the Washington Commanders — ranking third among running backs behind only Alvin Kamara and Austin Ekeler.

Kevin O’Connell has touted the value of having diverse pieces in his offense, and McKissic’s versatility as a former college receiver would give O’Connell a receiving threat out of the backfield that could also line up in the slot or outside.

The Vikings backfield has potential in Ty Chandler, Kene Nwangwu and seventh-round rookie DeWayne McBride, however, McKissic would bring surefire abilities primarily in the passing game but also as a change-of-pace back.

J.D. McKissic’s Evolution Into a Dual-Threat RB

Undrafted out of Arkansas State in 2016, McKissic has been the epitome of a journeyman in the NFL. His first touch in the NFL was a 101-yard kickoff return touchdown with the Atlanta Falcons during the preseason.

It wasn’t enough to earn him a roster spot as a raw prospect coming out of college, however, he was signed to the practice squad and spent the majority of the 2016 season with the Falcons. Atlanta released McKissic in December, leading to the Seattle Seahawks signing him off waivers. McKissic earned a spot in Seattle for the following two seasons.

In his 2017 debut, McKissic scored a pair of touchdowns in a 46-18 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

McKissic didn’t make the final roster in 2019, prompting the Detroit Lions to sign him that season. McKissic saw his largest share of carries that season yet as his evolution as a running back in the NFL had been realized. He posted 38 carries for 205 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry that season, earning himself a two-year contract with the Commanders the following season.

McKissic carved out a dominant role in Washington the following two seasons before he reached free agency. He had agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract with the Buffalo Bills before backing out of the deal after the Commanders had offered him an identical contract to stay in Washington.

He’s battled injury throughout his career, most recently a neck injury that landed him on the injured reserve after eight weeks in 2022. The Commanders released him in March as he remains unsigned.

 Vikings Looking for RB Room to Step Up to Replace Dalvin Cook

After Cook had struggled with efficiency running the ball last season, the Vikings are hoping to reinvent their run game with a committee approach to the backfield.

Chandler is considered a candidate to make a significant leap in his second NFL season.

“Ty’s obviously a great athlete — it’s the reason why we brought him here, but he’s a real pro. He’s been working really hard at it, as has that whole [running back] group,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said on June 7, per Vikings.com. “It’s a really special group of guys as far as Alex [Mattison], Kene [Nwangwu] and Ty, and then of course [fullback] C.J. [Ham] being involved with that, as well.”

After his release from the Minnesota Vikings, Dalvin Cook has banked on the idea of another team seeing the value he would bring to their offense — and he may just realize that in the AFC.

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin, a former agent, played running back “matchmaker” with a stable of Pro Bowl-caliber free agent backs and proposed the idea of Cook signing a two-year, $21 million contract with the Miami Dolphins.

“The connections here are well-documented, with Cook growing up in Miami and the Dolphins not-so-subtly eyeing a RB upgrade,” Benjamin wrote on June 20. “In the end, few teams have reason to outbid Cook’s hometown team, and while Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson make a serviceable pair for coach Mike McDaniel, Cook’s peak speed would make the Dolphins even more explosive.”

Miami has been the only team that publicly revealed interest in a trade for Cook back in March. However, with no deal in sight, the Dolphins re-signed their entire backfield but still have the cap space to support a deal slightly north of $10 million a season for Cook.

Minnesota, who would’ve had a $14.1 million cap hit, released Cook on June 10 instead of paying his full salary. In February, KSTP’s Darren Wolfson reported that Cook “was not inclined” to take a pay cut to stay with the Vikings. Now, he will look for a deal that would come close to his $10.4 million base salary for 2023, according to The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson on June 11.

Dalvin Cook in No Rush to Sign to a New Team

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Cook is in no rush to sign to a new team and may wait until the running backs who have received a franchise tag finish their negotiations.

“He’s in a little bit of a wait-and-see mode right now,” Fowler said on the June 17 episode of “SportsCenter,” per Bleacher Report. “No official visits to teams that I’m aware of, and we talk about the franchise tag with [Saquon] Barkley, Cook can actually wait until July 17 [to sign], I’m told, because you’ve got three running backs on the franchise tag—Tony Pollard, Josh Jacobs.”

The running back market is brimming with talent, with several former Pro Bowl backs still weighing their options. Kareem Hunt, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Cook are all free agents while Joe Mixon, Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard and Josh Jacobs are embroiled in contract negotiations.

Kirk Cousins Leaves Door Open for Dalvin Cook’s Return to Vikings

While the Vikings couldn’t reach an agreement with keeping Cook on the roster with his current contract, a reunion may not be out of the question if he can’t find the money he wants in free agency.

Minnesota would likely be open to that. The organization spoke highly of Cook upon his release. Unprompted in a media conference, Kirk Cousins openly expressed that he’s still holding on to hope that Cook could come back.

“I’m excited to see where he goes, I’ll always be pulling for him, and I’m kind of optimistically hoping we get him back — who knows,” Cousins said on June 14. “Maybe there’s an outside chance. We’ll see.”

The Minnesota Vikings made a move back in March that may spell the end of Jalen Reagor‘s time in Minnesota.

Signing veteran receiver Brandon Powell, who won a Super Bowl alongside Kevin O’Connell with the Los Angeles Rams, the Vikings added more competition at receiver and, more notably concerning Reagor, the punt returner role.

The 21st overall pick in the 2020 draft, Reagor has had a lackluster career as a first-round wide receiver. Minnesota landed the TCU product in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, exchanging a seventh-round pick and a conditional fifth-round pick for Reagor last September.

The move was made largely to bolster the Vikings’ special teams with the possibility of salvaging Reagor’s potential as a pass catcher. But after securing just eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown last season, Reagor’s involvement in the offense may not be enough to keep him around — especially with Powell pressing for the punt return role.

“I think Powell has done enough as a receiver to be a depth guy who can be a returner-receiver,” ESPN’s Mike Clay said on the  “Purple Insider” podcast on June 19, adding that Reagor’s grace as a first-round pick is fleeting entering the final year of his rookie deal. “Reagor, certainly his scholarship is over — no idea if he even makes the team.”

Jalen Reagor Unlikely to Sweeten Trade With Eagles

While the Eagles made do with the seventh-round pick they received from the Vikings in the draft this April, the 2024 conditional pick is unlikely to swing in their favor.

Reagor is unlikely to reach the statistical benchmarks that would turn the conditional fifth-rounder into a fourth.

According to Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice, Reagor would have to surpass any of the three given benchmarks:

• 40 receptions
• 500 receiving yards
• Five touchdowns

He did not come near any of those figures in 2022, and considering the additions of T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison since the trade, Reagor’s unlikely to carve out a role large enough to reach those benchmarks in 2023.

Minnesota didn’t gain much from the trade other than a relief punt returner. Reagor ranked 16th of 17 punt returners with 20 or more returns, averaging 6.4 yards per return.

Powell has averaged 9.6 yards per punt return in his career, including a 61-yard punt return touchdown in a 30-23 victory over the Vikings that clinched Los Angeles its playoff berth in 2021. He went on to average 11.6 yards per return during the postseason run.

Vikings Pass Catchers Rank Inside NFL Top 10

While the Reagor reclamation project hasn’t panned out as they’d hoped, the Vikings still boast one of the league’s top pass-catching corps.

Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 receiving corps in the league ahead of the 2023 season and slotted Minnesota at No. 7. The ranking is largely thanks to Justin Jefferson and Hockenson, who should soak up nearly half of the offense’s targets this season.

But if Addison can emerge as a viable threat to complement K.J. Osborn and Jefferson, the Vikings could present a case to be ranked even higher by the season’s end.

That bodes well for Kirk Cousins, who is entering a contract year in Minnesota and more than likely must take the team to at least one playoff victory to secure a future with the Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings have spent the last two years focused on bolstering the secondary, but the work remains unfinished.

Byron Murphy Jr. and Andrew Booth Jr. should make for a formidable starting duo come September, assuming both can remain healthy. However, Murphy and Booth missed eight and 11 games in 2022, respectively. Minnesota’s backup cornerbacks are second-year player Akayleb Evans, who missed seven games in his rookie season due to concussion issues, and third-round rookie Mekhi Blackmon who has yet to play an NFL snap.

The Vikings aren’t overly flush with salary cap space, with roughly $17.8 million at their disposal as of Sunday, June 18. But a value contract for a veteran cornerback makes sense for a young defensive backfield that has serious health issues in its recent past. Perhaps the perfect candidate in this regard is Anthony Brown, most recently of the Dallas Cowboys.

Anthony Brown Developed From Low-Round Draft Pick Into Bonafide NFL Starter

GettyThe Dallas Cowboys are unlikely to re-sign long-time starting cornerback Anthony Brown.

Brown is a longtime starter with the Cowboys who has spent the entirety of his seven-year career in Dallas since the team selected him in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

He became an every-Sunday starter alongside two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs two seasons ago after inking a three-year, $15.5 million deal in 2020. Brown had a highly productive 2021 campaign and was playing well again last season before tearing his ACL in December.

The injury appears to have derailed any plans the Cowboys might have had to bring Brown back into the fold on another multiyear deal after he played out his contract in 2022, though it opens a window for a team like the Vikings to add Brown on a value contract.

Anthony Brown Among Top Free Agents Remaining in 2023 Class

GettyCornerback Anthony Brown #30, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, is congratulated by Steven Parker #40 and Jaylon Smith #54 after returning a fumble for a touchdown against the New York Giants during a game in October 2020.

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report on June 14 listed Brown among his top-10 players under the age of 30 still available in free agency, noting that bad injury luck is all that has stood between the cornerback and a new deal in 2023.

[His] injury is the only reason that Brown remains unsigned this late into the offseason. There are a number of corners who have already signed new deals and found new homes who don’t have Brown’s ability or resume.

Two years ago, Brown was a 16-game starter for the Cowboys. He topped 70 total tackles, intercepted three passes and even scored a touchdown. Brown allowed just 65 of 122 passes thrown in his direction to be completed in 2021 and posted a passer rating against of 78.4.

For the record, that passer rating against is lower than Trevon Diggs’ was last year and Darius Slay of the [Philadelphia] Eagles. Brown’s numbers weren’t quite as good in 2022, but he was still a solid NFL starter.

Brown will play nearly the entirety of the 2023 campaign at 29 years old is in need of a landing spot where he can re-establish his value as a legitimate NFL starter. In this scenario, the Vikings hold the majority of the leverage in any potential negotiations and can likely ink the starting-caliber cover corner to a team-friendly deal for a duration of one or two seasons.

It isn’t the perfect solution for Minnesota’s secondary, but it is an affordable one that brings another quality player into a unit that has been a priority for the franchise over the past two offseasons.

The Minnesota Vikings are at an impasse with Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter.

Absent at mandatory minicamps last week, Hunter is seeking a contract extension that would significantly boost the $5.5 million in cash he is slated to earn in 2023, which ranks 56th among edge rushers.

Pioneer Press columnist Charley Walters wrote on June 18 that the Vikings are willing to give Hunter a pay raise, however, they appear standoffish about committing to the 28-year-old long-term.

“Even the Vikings realize his current $5 million contract for 2023 is undervalued, and it appears the team is willing to give him a new deal, but for just one year rather than two or three years,” Walters wrote. “Hunter, who turns 29 in October, is worth at least $15 million on a one-year deal. But it’s a good bet he’s looking for a three-year contract in the $65 million range.”

Danielle Hunter Looking for Long-Term Contract From Vikings

GettyOutside linebacker Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings looks on prior to a game against the Indianapolis Colts in December 2022.

After missing 24 or 32 games in the past two seasons due to injury, Hunter showed he is still a Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher last season, playing in all 17 regular-season games and tying for sixth in the league with 70 pressures.

Minnesota hopes to undergo a defensive rehaul under the direction of new defensive coordinator Brian Flores, but Flores has his work cut out for him with the departure of six veteran starters, including pressure-leader Za’Darius Smith (78 pressures) and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (29 pressures).

Hunter, who turns 29 in October, still has a few more years left in his prime and is hoping to strike one more lucrative deal — hence the holdout from team activities this spring.

He has the leverage considering his departure would make him the third of the Vikings’ four top pass rushers to leave the team. Incoming veteran Marcus Davenport and D.J. Wonnum would be the starting duo if Hunter did decide to hold out into the season.

A Vikings defense without Hunter would struggle to improve upon its performance from the 2022 season even with Flores at the controls. Minnesota overcame its defensive deficiencies last season to the tune of 13 wins, however, that came with a historic 11-0 record in single-score games that is hard to replicate year-to-year.

The 2023 Vikings have a chance to be a dark horse contender in the NFC if Flores can mold a young defensive core to peak late in the season, but that effort will be even more of an uphill battle without Hunter.

Trade Proposals Unlikely to Land Vikings 1st-Round Pick for Danielle Hunter

Three years ago, Hunter wouldn’t have left Minnesota without garnering the Vikings at least a pair of first-round picks.

But as injuries and time have caught up to Hunter, his long-term value in the league has diminished significantly.

Bleacher Report put together six potential trade packages involving Hunter and none included a first-round pick.

The Vikings front office would find it hard to part ways with Hunter for anything less than a top 32 pick in the draft, but if Hunter refuses to play, they may be left with no choice — much like how the Cleveland Browns leveraged a trade for Smith.

The Minnesota Vikings have two serious problems — an edge rusher who wants a new deal and no long-term plan at QB. They may be able to solve both with one blockbuster move.

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently proposed a trade that would ship outside linebacker Danielle Hunter to the San Francisco 49ers in return for quarterback Trey Lance and a 2024 fourth-round draft pick.

Davenport laid out his argument as part of an article published on Tuesday, June 13, which consisted of the points that the Niners don’t necessarily need to continue paying Lance to remain a Super Bowl contender, while Lance offers the Vikings a reasonable alternative to quarterback Kirk Cousins in 2024 and beyond.

The prevailing opinion appears to be that once Brock Purdy’s elbow is healthy, he will again start for the Niners. And Lance (the player the 49ers traded three first-round picks to obtain in 2021) will be the NFL’s most expensive (in terms of draft capital) clipboard-holder.

An extension for Hunter would be tricky for the 49ers, who still have to extend Nick Bosa and Brandon Aiyuk. But tricky isn’t impossible, and pairing Hunter and Bosa outside and [Javon] Hargrave and Arik Armstead inside would be a terrifying front four.

Assuming [Vikings head coach] Kevin O’ Connell believes he can turn Lance around, a Vikings team that appears to be rebuilding on the fly could get a successor to Kirk Cousins, who will be a free agent in 2024 — a successor under team control through 2026 at a reasonable (for a quarterback) salary.

49ers Value Edge Rushers Enough to Render Danielle Hunter, Trey Lance Trade Legitimate Possibility

GettyQuarterback Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers visits the dugouts before the start of an MLB game between the Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers in May 2023.

Davenport also cited Kyle Madson of USA Today’s Niners Wire, who noted that the pass-rush upgrade represented by Hunter can make real sense in San Francisco, especially after the team added quarterback Sam Darnold to the roster this offseason.

“If San Francisco’s coaching staff and front office have truly seen enough of Lance to believe he won’t be their starter at any point, then it’s easy to see them prioritizing their pass rush, making that move and relying on a Purdy-Darnold-[Brandon] Allen trio to get them through the season,” Madson wrote.

“It’d be a pretty significant risk, but the 49ers have made it clear how valuable they think game-wrecking pass rushers are,” Madson continued.

49ers’ Decision to Sign 2 Free Agent QBs in 2023 Indicates Trey Lance May Be Available to Vikings

GettyHead coach Kevin O’Connell (left) of the Minnesota Vikings talks to quarterback Kirk Cousins (right) prior to a game against the Chicago Bears in January 2023. 

The 49ers added Allen in May, bringing their QB total to four on the depth chart. Allen’s one-year deal is worth $1.23 million total and includes $200,000 guaranteed, which is a strong indicator he will be on either the 53-man roster or the practice squad for much, if not all, of the upcoming season.

Allen has four years of experience on active NFL rosters, one with the Denver Broncos in 2019 and the last three with the Cincinnati Bengals. He has produced a 2-7 career record as a starter in the league, throwing for 1,611 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions, per Pro Football Reference.

The Niners signed Darnold to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million, which positions him firmly in the salary range of a typical NFL backup QB in 2023. Darnold has started 55 games across five professional seasons with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers. His signing in San Francisco led to increased speculation that Lance might be available via trade, as insiders didn’t believe Darnold was interested in signing anywhere as a third-string quarterback, even with a contender like the 49ers.

Lance, meanwhile, is due north of $9 million next season in the third year of his rookie deal. The quarterback is a Minnesota native and a dual pass/run threat who could spend 2023 learning the Vikings’ offense under O’Connell while insulated from immediate pressure to perform due to Cousins’ occupation of the starting role.

Minnesota has plenty of salary cap space (more than $17.8 million as of June 17) to absorb Lance’s contract. The Vikings’ available space would also increase by $5.5 million were the team to trade Hunter, now that the June 1 deadline has passed.

Danielle Hunter‘s holdout from Minnesota Vikings minicamp this week has sparked plenty of trade interest across the league, including the team that eliminated the Vikings from the playoffs six months ago.

“I know for a fact the New York Giants would love to have Danielle Hunter. Andre Patterson [former Vikings defensive line coach] thinks the world of him,” Wolfson said.

A defensive line guru, Patterson is credited with drafting and developing mid-round picks like Everson Griffen and Hunter into Pro Bowl talents during his tenure under Mike Zimmer. Patterson moved on to join the Giants after he was not retained by the new regime.

Patterson’s departure sparked a scare that Hunter could leave as well. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made sure to get on the same page as Hunter upon his hiring, making the Pro Bowl pass rusher one of his first phone calls.

“Danielle was one of the first people I spoke with,” Adofo-Mensah said in February 2022. “Really good player. Really good person. He’s a really good football player and to build a championship team you need a lot of really good football players. He’s someone we want to work with going forward.”

Adofo-Mensah’s words back then align with Wolfson’s report that the Vikings have every intention of keeping Hunter despite the holdout.

A deal should be finalized before training camp in late July if that proves true. Otherwise, the possibility of a trade will continue to grow after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Vikings have fielded trade calls for the three-time Pro Bowler.

Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger proposed the Giants should be a team that has interest in Hunter.

Kevin O’Connell Cautiously Optimistic About Vikings, Danielle Hunter Deal

Addressing Hunter’s absence at mandatory minicamps this week, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was even-keeled on his best defensive player missing.

“The only thing I would just say is I’ve got all the respect in the world for Danielle as a player, a leader, a person on our team,” O’Connell said. “Those situations, you know, I don’t want to speak for Kwesi, but we feel very strongly about being solution-oriented with everything that comes about.”

O’Connell added that he would “like to think” that reaching an agreement to keep Hunter in Minnesota is possible.

“When I say ‘solution-oriented,’ that is definitely one of the solutions that hopefully we can work toward,” he said.

O’Connell’s answers aren’t quite as encouraging when you hear the new regime speak of keeping Justin Jefferson around. The Vikings appear open to trade offers and are entertaining all options on Hunter’s future.

Danielle Hunter Trade Could Yield Vikings New Franchise QB

The Vikings embark on what could be their final season with Kirk Cousins under center.

Cousins has brought steady play to the position the past five seasons but has won just one playoff game in that span. Credit to Cousins, he has kept the Vikings from cratering through the decline of the 2017 NFC Championship roster. However, that’s also kept Minnesota out of range of taking a swing at a bonafide franchise quarterback in the top-five picks of the draft.

The Vikings are bound to land somewhere in the middle of the first round again this year considering the defense isn’t expected to make a drastic improvement after releasing Eric Kendricks, Dalvin Tomlinson and Za’Darius Smith.

But Minnesota could still find a way to climb up in the draft, and trading Hunter could be the necessary evil needed to make that happen.

Hunter is 28 years old and could still garner a first-round selection that would be needed to make a significant leap up the draft board in 2024.

Lost somewhat in the shuffle of a busy offseason for the Minnesota Vikings have been the team’s future plans for quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Minnesota made something of conflicting statements on their long-time starter by first rejecting an offer from Cousins’ team to take a discount on a multiyear extension this offseason, then forfeiting the chance to select either Will Levis or Hendon Hooker in the NFL Draft — both of whom remained available when the Vikings selected at No. 23 in the first round.

Cousins, who will earn $30 million on the final year of his contract in 2023, hasn’t spoken much about his negotiations with the franchise other than to say that he would like to remain in Minnesota long-term. However, the quarterback broke that relative silence on Wednesday, June 14, offering a public update on the status of his contract talks with the team.

“I think we’ll probably talk about the contract next March,” Cousins told reporters as minicamp concluded, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. “Until then, [we’ll] just focus on this season and the job to do right now.”

“In this league, there should never be entitlement,” Cousins added. “You’ve always got to go play, and teams can do whatever they want to do. That’s their prerogative. You just go to work. You do the best you can. I’m encouraged and excited because I do feel like I’ve got a lot of good football ahead of me.”

Rookie Jaren Hall Represents Vikings Only Long-Term Option at QB Other Than Kirk Cousins

Courtesy of VikingsMinnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Jaren Hall throws a pass during team activities in summer 2023.

Cousins’ commentary makes clear that the Vikings’ long-term future at quarterback will remain murky throughout a 2023 season being billed by the franchise as a competitive rebuild.

Minnesota selected quarterback Jaren Hall out of BYU in the fifth round of this year’s draft, with whom head coach Kevin O’Connell has been enamored early in Hall’s tenure with the team. At 25 years old, Hall is potentially a candidate to replace Cousins as early as the 2024 season, though his viability in that regard is almost certain to develop significantly one way or another throughout the course of both this summer and the regular season.

The only other quarterback on the Vikings’ depth chart currently is Nick Mullens. Mullens has significant starting experience in the NFL, earning a record of 5-12 for his career, but has proven himself more of a backup option as he enters his sixth professional campaign.

Kirk Cousins Represents Safety Valve for Vikings at QB in 2024

GettyQuarterback Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after a play during a game against the New York Giants in October 2019.

Should Hall fail to prove his readiness for the starting position under center over the course of 2023, Cousins will remain the surest and most likely bet to retain the helm of the Vikings’ offense in 2024 and potentially beyond. That said, Minnesota is running a serious risk by waiting until March of next year to make a decision on the QB’s future with the franchise.

Cousins will officially hit free agency on March 15 of next year, at which point he will potentially gain significant negotiating leverage over the Vikings, especially if he puts up another Pro Bowl-caliber season.

The quarterback will turn 35 years old less than one month before the start of the upcoming campaign and has earned Pro-Bowl nods in each of the last two years, as well as in three of the previous four. Cousins almost never gets injured and has proven himself more than competent as an NFL starter, amassing a career record of 72-63-2 and leading the Vikings to the playoffs in 2022 for the second time during his five-year stint with the team.

Unless his production falls off dramatically or he suffers a catastrophic injury, there will be a significant market for Cousins next offseason. The Vikings have the upper hand in negotiations if they enter into them now, but Minnesota will put its rebuild at risk should the team lose Cousins in 2024 without a viable option to replace him.

The franchise could face similar problems if it is forced to make Cousins an offer of too much money over too many years due to losing negotiating leverage based on the same scenario.

The Minnesota Vikings‘ release of Dalvin Cook was months in the making as the four-time Pro Bowl running back was unwilling to take a pay cut since the start of the offseason.

Minnesota attempted to find a trade partner for Cook. But with no deal in sight, the Vikings opted to cut Cook and move forward.

However, Minnesota may not be out on Cook just yet.

Kirk Cousins addressed Cook’s departure at mandatory minicamps on June 14 and expressed that he’s still holding on to hope that the Vikings and Cook could reunite with the four-time Pro Bowl running back still wavering in free agency.

“I’m excited to see where he goes, I’ll always be pulling for him, and I’m kind of optimistically hoping we get him back — who knows,” Cousins said on Wednesday. “Maybe there’s an outside chance. We’ll see.”

Ex-Vikings RB Dalvin Cook’s Asking Price Revealed

GettyRunning back Dalvin Cook of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to the NFC Wild Card game against the New York Giants in January 2023.

It’s not clear what kind of pay cut the Vikings asked Cook to take, however, there is an idea of how much Cook is looking for to sign onto a new team.

Appearing on The Rich Eisen Show on June 8, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that Cook is “not coming in for $4 or $5 million and is expecting a “significant” contract with his next team.

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported on June 11 that Cook is looking for something “far closer” to the $10.4 million base salary he was set to earn this year with the Vikings.

Most NFL teams have the cap space to support a $10 million a year deal for Cook this season, however, the team-building philosophy around paying a running back that much has disappeared from many front offices.

Ideally, Cook will sign with a new team by the start of training camp in late July. But if he remains unsigned, there could be an opportunity for Minnesota to try to sign Cook to a more modest deal.

“I wanted to take the time just to acknowledge the respect I have for [Cook] as a player and a person and the difference he’s made for our team,” Cousins added. “His toughness. His consistency. I think he’s been to four straight Pro Bowls, so that says it all right there.”

Vikings’ Decision on Danielle Hunter Comes Next

GettyVikings edge rusher Danielle Hunter’s agent is believed to be playing hardball with the front office after he negotiated a bad contract for the star back in 2018.

The conclusion of mandatory minicamps this week ushers in the de-facto summer break for the NFL. However, the Vikings front office still has plenty of work ahead, especially with disgruntled edge rusher Danielle Hunter.

Hunter held out from minicamp, costing himself nearly $50,000 to put pressure on the Vikings to offer him a lucrative contract extension.

Minnesota cleared $9 million in cap space by cutting Cook, who was carried a $14.3 million cap hit before he was released on June 9. While extending Justin Jefferson. and T.J. Hockenson are high priorities, they do not need to be extended immediately. Those cap savings could be used to sweeten Hunter’s contract right now if the Vikings hope to keep the three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher around.

Trade offers have begun to circulate for Hunter, and with the departures of valuable veterans like Adam Thielen, Za’Darius Smith and Cook, Hunter hitting the high road would signal that the 2023 season is a true rebuild year for the organization.

The Minnesota Vikings have spent much of this offseason trimming the budget, but that’s all about to change.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported on Thursday, June 15, that the franchise intends to extend tight end T.J. Hockenson on a long-term contract, though it could still be a matter of weeks before those talks significantly heat up. The Vikings traded with the Detroit Lions for Hockenson ahead of the 2022 deadline.

The free agent signing of tight end Josh Oliver, who was fully guaranteed $8.2 million, raised eyebrows about the Vikings’ long-term commitment to Hockenson. Since then, however, it has become clear that coach Kevin O’Connell wants two viable tight ends to maximize his scheme. O’Connell said that pairing Oliver and Hockenson “actually gets you really excited about how versatile we can be … [and how] we can reinvent ourselves in staying true to our football philosophy.”

While the Vikings’ financial attention has been occupied elsewhere this offseason, most notably in a complicated contract negotiation with All-Pro receiver Justin Jefferson, it’s clear they plan to address Hockenson’s deal as well. Progress is more likely to take place later this summer.

T.J. Hockenson Positioned to Earn 2nd-Largest TE Contract in NFL History From Vikings

GettyTight end T.J. Hockenson of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after a play against the New York Giants during an NFC Wild Card playoff game in January 2023.

The Lions selected Hockenson with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. The University of Iowa product played out the fourth year of his $19.8 million rookie deal last season. However, as a first-round selection, the Vikings have Hockenson under contract through 2023 on a fifth-year team option that will pay the tight end just shy of $9.4 million for the year.

Spotrac projects Hockenson’s market value at $14.4 million per season across a four-year contract, for a total value of more than $57.7 million. The projection appears relatively accurate to scale, as it would be the second-largest tight end contract in history behind the five-year, $75 million agreement George Kittle signed with the San Francisco 49ers two years ago.

Hockenson earned the second Pro-Bowl nod of his four-year NFL career last season after amassing 86 catches for 914 yards and six touchdowns. A total of 60 of those catches, along with 519 yards and three scores, came during his 10 games with the Vikings, per Pro Football Reference.

Vikings Expected to Extend Wide Receiver Justin Jefferson on Record Deal

GettyWide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings reacts after making a catch against the Indianapolis Colts during a game in December 2022.

While Hockenson is likely to be wildly expensive to extend, his pass-catching counterpart on the outside of the offense figures to sign an historic contract extension sooner than later.

Jefferson is a three-time Pro Bowler who earned a first-team All-Pro nod in 2022 after leading the NFL in both catches (128) and receiving yards (1,809). Those totals also broke all-time franchise records.

The wideout will play the fourth season of his four-year, $13.1 million rookie deal in 2023. Minnesota exercised its fifth-year team option on the former first-rounder’s contract, locking Jefferson in through 2024 at the price of $19.7 million.

Jefferson is pushing for a contract extension now, as his value is at an all-time high. The longer the team waits, the greater the risk of the receiver losing leverage due to either reduced production or an injury issue.

The Vikings currently have north of $17.8 million in salary cap space after cutting running back Dalvin Cook earlier this month. The team could clear more room by trading pass rusher Danielle Hunter, should it choose to travel down that path.

The NFL All-Pro list is the definitive measure of a player’s stature as the elite of the elite at his position, and the honor that garners the most respect when it comes to defining legacies.

Early summer is a time when hope springs eternal for NFL teams, and players, alike, as minicamps wind down and the grind of training camp and the upcoming season await with much optimism and promise. It’s also the perfect time to project out which players will shine the brightest in the fall.

Projecting which players will wind up as a First-Team All-Pro can be a daunting task, but easy all at once, by simply placing the name of the best player at his position the prior season into your projected list for the next one.

But, in order to make things a bit more interesting, to shine the spotlight a little brighter on some of the stars of the game that are knocking on the doorstep of reaching “elite’ status, we opted instead to make the list of players most likely to become a First-Team All-Pro selection for the first time.

Here are our selections:

QB: Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts very nearly stole the MVP and a first-team All-Pro slot from Patrick Mahomes last season, but the stage seems set for the 24-year-old to make another significant stride in his development. Given that this will be Hurts’ second season throwing to dynamic receiver A.J. Brown, as well as DeVonta Smith’s third NFL season (when receivers typically begin to peak), all of the pieces are in place for Hurts to take his game and the Eagles’ outlook to new heights.

RB: Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Chubb was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2022, and he’s one of the most feared backs in the game. The combination of the Browns‘ run-based scheme, an offensive line that can make a strong claim as one of the two best in the league, and Chubb’s ferocious running style give the 27-year-old a great chance to make the varsity squad in 2023.

RB: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons

Running back might be the easiest position to make the leap to first-team All-Pro as a rookie. Especially when a rookie running back can expect the kind of workload Robinson can in Atlanta, combined with his explosiveness as a runner and versatility as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. If Robinson’s 104 forced missed tackles and 1,o71 yards after contact from last season at the University of Texas translate to the NFL, look out.

WR: A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles

Not only was A.J. Brown a touchdown-maker, catching a career-high 11 in his first season in Philadelphia, he was a monster averaging 6.4 Yards After the Catch per Reception. If that was Brown’s introduction to the Eagles‘ offense, imagine how much more prolific he’ll be in a second season as Hurts’ favorite target.

WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

Chase was a second-team All-Pro selection in 2021, but each year the dynamic receiver’s chemistry seems to strengthen with quarterback Joe Burrow. Injuries limited Chase to just 12 games last season, yet he still produced 1,046 receiving yards with nine touchdowns. Given that Chase averaged 4.8 Yards after The Catch per Reception, just imagine how productive he’ll be if he can stay on the field for the entire 2023 campaign.

WR: Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins

One might think that the addition of a speedster like Tyreek Hill on the other side might limit the production of a player like Waddle, but that’s not exactly how 2022 played out. Sure, Waddle only caught 75 passes (down from 104 in 2022), but his yards per catch average nearly doubled to an eye-popping 18.1. Waddle’s speed gives him the ability to take the top off a defense. Playing opposite Hill creates space. Don’t be surprised if Waddle finds a way to build on last season’s 1,356-yard and 8-touchdown outburst.

TE: T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings

Hockenson was an absolute revelation to the Vikings‘ offense, after arriving in a midseason trade. The 25-year-old caught 60 passes for 519 yards with 3 touchdowns during the final 10 games of the season. With Justin Jefferson flying down the perimeter, expect there to be plenty of room for Hockenson to operate underneath, and plenty of check down targets from Kirk Cousins for him to rack up yards and touchdowns this season.

LT: Andrew Thomas, New York Giants

Andrew Thomas is one of the ascending stars along the offensive line, and the trajectory of his career has been ticking upward the past two seasons, in a big way. A Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2022, Thomas only allowed three sacks and continued to emerge as a stalwart along the Giants’ offensive line.

RT: Kaleb McGary, Atlanta Falcons

McGary is a dominant presence along the line of scrimmage, and one of the Falcons’ building blocks on offense. Last season, McGary was Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 highest-rated offensive tackle, with an 86.6 overall grade. The addition of Robinson in the backfield will give McGary even more opportunities to showcase his ability as a lead-blocker in the running game, where he posted the highest run-blocking grade of anyone not named Trent Williams, at 91.6.

LG: Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs

Joe Thuney has been a stalwart of consistency throughout his career, and he has elevated his game to new heights since arriving in Kansas City in 2021. Last season, Thuney was instrumental in keeping Mahomes upright, allowing only one sack and 15 total pressures. That kind of consistency up front makes it easy for a freelancer like Mahomes to create big-play opportunities.

RG: Teven Jenkins, Chicago Bears

Teven Jenkins is a road grader up front in the running game, a tactician in pass protection, and one of the anchors of the Chicago Bears‘ offensive line. Last season, Jenkins only allowed 2.0 sacks and 12 quarterback pressures. He’s already on the cusp of breaking through as an All-Pro, and if the Bears’ offense makes major strides, this could be his season to crack the list.

C: Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs

Creed Humphrey is the most consistently dominant young center in this league. Full stop. Humphrey is a complete mauler as a run-blocker, producing an elite 91.1 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus, and a stonewall in pass protection, where he didn’t allow a single sack last season, with just one surrendered through the first two seasons of his career. Maybe more impressive than the fact that Humphrey allowed just 21, quarterback hits is that he was flagged for only 4 penalties in 1,138 snaps in 2022. Humphrey is an ascending talent and perhaps next in line to be a permanent All-Pro fixture.

EDGE: Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders

There are few pass-rushers who strike as much fear in opposing offensive tackles as Maxx Crosby does when he’s flying off the edge. It is almost unfair that a player has that much burst and that much speed, flying off the corner. Beyond freakish athleticism, Crosby’s productivity speaks for itself; 15.0 sacks, 81 total pressures, 4 forced fumbles, and 70 tackles in 2022 as the centerpiece of the Raiders‘ defense. Given the exotic blitz packages defensive coordinator Patrick Graham is accustomed to drawing up, don’t be surprised if even those numbers from Crosby take a big jump in 2023.

EDGE: Montez Sweat, Washington Commanders

Montez Swat is borderline unblockable off the edge, where he produced 8.0 sacks and 63 total pressures as the centerpiece of the Commanders’ front-seven in 2022. What makes Sweat special is that he’s one of the more dominant run-stopping edge players in the game, on top of being a game-wrecker when rushing the passer. Sweat is one of the more complete players at his position, and if he continues his upward trajectory, could find himself on All-Pro lists this season.

DL: D.J. Reader, Cincinnati Bengals

Injuries limited D.J. Reader’s production last season, he missed six games due to a knee injury while finishing with 27 tackles and 1.0 sack, but don’t let those numbers fool you into thinking this isn’t one of the top players at his position. Reader is a matchup nightmare, a dominant interior pass-rusher, and as steady as they come against the run. If Reader can stay on the field all season, 2023 could be the year he solidifies his place among the elite of the position.

DL: Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants

Few humans walking the earth can move with the speed and burst that Dexter Lawrence shows on each snap, at a mammoth 6-foot-4 and 342 pounds. Not only does Lawrence take up boatloads of space against the run, but his 9.0 sacks and 63 total pressures are absolute game-wreckers up the middle for opposing quarterbacks. Lawrence was a Second-Team All-Pro selection in 2022, and playing another season in coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale’s scheme should create even more opportunities for Lawrence to destroy things up the middle. If he does, well, etch his name on the First-Team list this season.

LB: Tremaine Edmunds, Chicago Bears

Edmunds arrives in Chicago coming off the most dominant season of his prolific career. Once again surpassing 100 total tackles, Edmunds produced a team-high 101, while holding opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of just 87.1. All that, only to leave Buffalo without a contract extension. Given Edmunds’ productivity, his talent, and the added motivation that comes with being spurned by your former team, expect big things from the centerpiece of the Bears’ revamped defense in 2023.

LB: Devin Lloyd, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lloyd didn’t waste any time throwing his weight around, as a rookie in the Jaguars’ linebacker corps last season. The Utah alum’s three interceptions led all linebackers, and he was consistently around the football, carding 110 total tackles. If Lloyd builds on his stellar rookie season, don’t be surprised to find him on this list by year’s end.

LB: Dre Greenlaw, San Francisco 49ers

A strong case can be made that each member of the 49ers’ front-seven could wind up an All-Pro, but Greenlaw should benefit more than most from Javon Hargrave’s arrival. Last season Greenlaw had 127 tackles and was just a brick wall against the run. Expect that to continue in 2023.

CB: Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers boast one of the most talented defenses in the league, and the best defensive back on the roster might be Charvarius Ward, who is criminally underrated outside the Bay Area. Opposing quarterbacks managed only an 88.2 passer rating when targeting Ward last season, and receivers had little room to operate, averaging just 11 yards per catch. Given the combination of the 49ers’ ferocious front-seven and Ward’s prowess in man coverage, the stage could be set for the 27-year-old to have a career year in 2023.

CB: Asante Samuel Jr., Los Angeles Chargers

Entering his third season, Samuel Jr. hasn’t just already proven himself to be a legitimate ballhawk, but he continues to get better. Quarterbacks rarely targeted Samuel Jr. last season, and when they did, they managed a meager 97.6 passer rating on those throws. Samuel Jr. already etched his name in the record books, becoming the first player to pull down three interceptions in his playoff debut. If Samuel builds on a stellar finish to 2022, there’s a good chance he finishes 2023 as an All-Pro.

S: Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens

Hamilton is as versatile as they come at safety, and aims to build on a prolific rookie season, that was capped by him leading the Ravens’ defense with 9.0 tackles in a Wild Card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Not only does Hamilton thrive in coverage, where he played both deep safety and in the slot while holding opposing receivers to only 9.9 Yards per Reception, but he’s a real weapon up near the line of scrimmage. Hamilton’s 2.0 sacks and 20 run-stops underscore his value at all levels of the Ravens’ defense.

S: Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Winfield Jr. is an ascending talent at the safety position, who could see more opportunities to create turnovers as head coach Todd Bowles dials up the pressure via the blitz this season. Moving to free safety this season could create more opportunities for Winfield to flash in coverage, where he held opposing receivers to just 10.5 Yards per Reception in 2022. If the Buccaneers’ defense bounces back, and Winfield plays a starring role, don’t be surprised when he winds up being an impact player this season.

Danielle Hunter’s holdout from the Minnesota Vikings‘ mandatory minicamp officially puts the franchise at a crossroads with its best defender.

Hunter is seeking a lucrative contract extension, and the Vikings appear willing to give the star edge rusher a significant bump in his pay.

So where’s the catch?

Hunter’s agent could be playing “some serious hardball” after he negotiated the star’s last deal that left Hunter significantly underpaid, according to SKOR North’s Declan Goff.

“I was told that the agent for Danielle Hunter is playing some serious hardball, making negotiations a little more difficult than it was anticipated,” Goff said on June 13.

KSTP’s Darren Wolfson added that Minnesota is willing to bump Hunter’s pay significantly after previous restructures left Hunter with just $5.5 million in cash to earn this season, which ranks 56th among edge rushers this season.

The History of Danielle Hunter’s Displeasure His Contract

Hunter’s agent, Zeke Sandhu, has an established rapport with the Vikings front office and effectively negotiated the signing of former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. back in March.

However, Sandhu also negotiated a bad contract for Hunter five years ago.

“You go back to the last deal that Danielle did the agent failed miserably. That was a horrible contract,” Wolfson said. “This is me maybe opining more than informing, but Zeke [Hunter’s agent] is trying to save face… after he failed his client so badly last time around.”

Agreeing to a five-year, $72 million contract in 2018, Hunter quickly outplayed the contract, posting a league-leading 154 pressures across the 2018 and 2019 seasons, per Pro Football Focus, and the third-most sacks (29.0) among all NFL defenders.

The deal became outdated as soon as it was signed, and Hunter likely could have renegotiated a deal before he suffered a neck injury in 2020 that put his playing career into question. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Hunter would go undergo season-ending surgery that October before adding a significant detail seemingly out of left field.

“MIN has a decision this offseason: Make Hunter the highest-paid defender in football or trade him,” Rapoport tweeted in 2020. “Have we seen the last of him in a Vikings uniform?”

That sparked what has become a perennial tension between the Vikings and Hunter’s camp, which has sought to make up for the lighter years at the front of his contract.

After Hunter was reported to be “unhappy” with his contract entering the 2021 offseason, former general manager Rick Spielman restructured Hunter’s contract to allow him to enter a prove-it year by creating an $18 million signing bonus on the books that would toll five days into the 2022 league year.

The new regime, still needing to see if Hunter could play a full season, respected the restructure despite Hunter suffering a season-ending torn pectoral injury eight games into the 2021 season. He put forth a healthy season and finished top 10 in pressures for the first time since 2019.

However, The Vikings accelerating money in the contract to keep Hunter happy has left the remaining cash ($5.5 million) comparable to a backup at his position after he showed he’s still one of the top pass rushers in the league.

“There is no question agreeing to that contract in 2018 is one of the better deals the Vikings have gotten but it has bit them in the a** because at every turn it has been so undervalued,” SKOR North’s Judd Zulgad said. “They shoved cash upfront. Danielle Hunter being due a payday at 5.5 million was never supposed to happen.”

What Danielle Hunter’s New Deal May Look With Vikings

The price of a premium edge rusher in the NFL isn’t cheap, and Minnesota appears prepared to pay Hunter.

That rate will likely be in the ballpark of $20 million a season. What could be a contentious point is the duration of a deal as Hunter, who was once the youngest player to reach 50 career sacks at the age of 25, is now approaching the decline of his prime at the age of 28.

Last season showed that Hunter benefited from Za’Darius Smith being double-teamed more frequently. He wasn’t quite among the league’s elite pass rushers when it comes to beating the double team. This chart shows Hunter among a cluster in the bottom right of pass rushers who saw fewer double teams but didn’t win the snap as frequently as the league’s top pass rushers.

He’s benefited from having high-caliber running mates opposite of him like Everson Griffen and Smith. That likely makes paying him as much as T.J. Watt or Myles Garrett out of the question.

A comparable contract could be Bradley Chubb, who is on a deal worth $22 million annually.

Should the Minnesota Vikings ultimately decide to trade Danielle Hunter, there will be no shortage of suitors and the return will be substantial.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler offered educated speculation on two elements of a potential Hunter swap. The most important is that the Vikings would “prefer to retain” their 2022 sack leader, though Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be ready to deal if a rival franchise comes correct with a real offer. The second is that said offer likely starts with a second-round pick in return, or a player of equal value, and goes up from there.

With that value assumption as a baseline, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report on Tuesday, June 13, examined a handful of potential trade partners for Hunter. The most substantial draft package Minnesota might receive in one of these hypothetical deals comes from the New York Jets and while it doesn’t include a second-round pick, it is a sizable haul for Hunter.

Trading Danielle Hunter to Jets in Line With Vikings’ Recent Personnel Trend

GettyOutside linebacker Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings sacks quarterback Derek Carr of the Las Vegas Raiders during a game in September 2019.

Davenport’s pitch would see the Jets send the Vikings a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick in 2024 as well as a fifth-round selection in 2025. New York would then be able to team Hunter up with Quinnen Williams and rookie first-rounder Will McDonald (No. 15 overall) along its defensive front.

The Jets also have veterans Carl Lawson and John Franklin-Myers and second-year pro Jermaine Johnson on the roster. But Lawson has been a massive bust and is in the last year of his contract, and Johnson was OK at best in limited time as a rookie.

Thanks to the conditions of the [Aaron] Rodgers trade, the Jets can’t offer the Vikings a second-rounder in 2024. But the team has a pair of fourth-rounders this year. Using at least one (or even both) of those picks along with a third-rounder could tempt the Vikings enough to get a deal done.

At this stage of his career, Hunter makes more sense for a franchise like the Jets than one like the Vikings. The edge rusher will turn 29 years old in late October and has a recent injury history of some significance. He missed the entirety of the 2020 campaign due to a neck surgery and sat out another 10 contests in 2021 after suffering a torn pectoral.

Hunter was a Pro-Bowl selection in 2018, 2019 and last season, showing that he can still put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks and proving that he can stay healthy as he approaches the vaunted age of 30 — often regarded as a veteran benchmark in the NFL for almost every position save for quarterback.

In 2022, Hunter amassed 10.5 sacks and 34 QB pressures, per Pro Football Reference. Kicking that kind of production out the door is a risky move for Minnesota after saying goodbye to 10 sacks from Za’Darius Smith via a trade with the Cleveland Browns in May.

But a draft haul like the one Davenport proposed probably makes that risk worth it to a franchise that doesn’t need to win big in 2023, or even in 2024, for the general manager and head coach to keep their jobs. Adofo-Mensah has focused on making his roster younger and less expensive since he took the helm, so it is only logical that the Vikings will continue on that path in a mediocre NFC North Division.

Vikings Can Inflate Trade Return for Danielle Hunter With Team Like Jets

GettyWide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before a game against the New York Giants in December 2022.

If Minnesota is patient and plays competition for Hunter against itself, the Vikings can probably up the draft package Davenport proposed. The Jets are clearly all-in over the next couple of years after dealing for Rodgers this offseason, but they remain shy of sure-fire bets at left tackle and off the edge of the defense. Minnesota, meanwhile, is in the midst of what the franchise is billing as a competitive rebuild.

While the Jets are playing the short-game, the Vikings are clearly restructuring for the long-haul. If the team is so inclined, it might be able to pry a second-round pick out of New York in 2025 in exchange for Hunter to go along with a third-rounder and fourth-rounder in 2024, or a pair of fourth-round selections that draft.

Moving Hunter via a trade now will clear only $5.5. million off the Vikings’ salary cap in 2023, but it will also keep an eight-figure salary off of the books for several years into the future. That will help the Vikings sign wide receiver Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson to long-term deals, both of which are expected to be lucrative. It will also aid the team in 2024 as it searches for a franchise quarterback, with those savings amplified by the likely departure of Kirk Cousins.

Former Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph paid his team of 10 years a visit this week and teased the possibility of a potential late summer signing.

At TCO Performance Center in Eagan on June 13, Rudolph posted a photo on Instagram with his son, Henry, teasing that he was playing agent for the 4-year-old.

“I think 4 year olds can take free agency visits right!? Henry liked what he saw from the team today, had a great conversation with [head coach Kevin O’Connell] over lunch and we will evaluate his options as summer progresses,” Rudolph wrote.

Although unofficial, the visit was meaningful for Rudolph, 33, who has begun to contemplate the next step in his career. A one-day contract for Rudolph could be a possibility this year for the former Pro Bowl tight end. There is also a vacancy with Ben Ellefson’s unexpected retirement last month. However, Rudolph has declined offers since he was released from Minnesota in the 2021 offseason.

Rudolph started in 13 games for the New York Giants the following season and caught 26 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown. Last season, Rudolph dressed for nine games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but saw only five targets, three of which he pulled in for 28 yards and a touchdown.

 Kyle Rudolph Expressed His Desire to Sign With Vikings in 2022 Offseason

Last June, Rudolph made an appearance on KFAN’s #92Noon radio show, addressing the possibility of playing for the Vikings again with one final objective in mind — winning a Super Bowl.

“Certainly for me, there’s still one thing left to do here and that’s win a championship in Minnesota. Obviously, I would love to have another opportunity to get a crack at it. I talked about being calculated in my next decision,” Rudolph said. “I’ve never won a Super Bowl. I’d love to hoist a Lombardi at some point in my career. I do believe this Vikings team has a chance to do that, and certainly, I would be open to that.”

Rudolph proved prophetic in his confidence in the 2022 Vikings under the new regime that opted to keep the roster intact and make a run with a new culture in the building. Minnesota won 13 games before falling in the first round of the playoffs. However, it was a considerable improvement after a pair of losing seasons in 2020 and 2021.

Rudolph said he declined several offers from teams throughout last spring to keep his family rooted in Minnesota for the summer. He’s likely taking a similar approach and waiting for the right opportunity to sign with a team during training camp.

Kyle Rudolph’s Legacy With Vikings in Minnesota

Whenever Rudolph plans to retire, his name will be cemented in the Vikings franchise.

He is the franchise record holder for most receiving touchdowns (48) by a tight end and ranks fifth among all players. Rudolph is second in career receptions (425) and receiving yards (4,215), behind only Steve Jordan.

Whether Rudolph will sign on for another year in the league or broach retirement remains to be seen. However, he intends to stay rooted in Minnesota.

“Being around town after being gone and the amount of people saying, ‘we wished you were still here,’ just the amount of love myself and my family have gotten from people around the state it’s really opened our eyes to how admired we are by Vikings fans and how much love they’ve showed us for the last decade of our lives here,” Rudolph said on KFAN last summer.

The Minnesota Vikings will open mandatory minicamp later this week, but at least one prominent player won’t be in attendance.

Star edge rusher Danielle Hunter made known his plans to skip the two day session, held from June 13-14, as he holds out for a new, long-term contract. Hunter is entering the final season of a five-year, $72 million deal in 2023. While that averages out to just shy of $14.5 million per season, Hunter is scheduled to earn approximately $5.5 million this year in base salary and guaranteed bonuses.

“Minnesota Vikings pass-rusher Danielle Hunter is planning to hold out from the team’s mandatory minicamp this week as questions persist about his future with the team, a source confirmed Monday,” Kevin Seifert of ESPN reported June 12. “Skipping mandatory minicamp will subject him to mandatory fines of $16,459 for the first day and $32,920 for the second … and calls into question whether he will report to training camp when it begins in late July.”

Danielle Hunter Viable Vikings Trade Candidate This Summer

GettyEdge rusher Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings rushes the quarterback during a game against the Chicago Bears in January 2023.

Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is cleaning house this offseason and with Hunter’s holdout plans about to go into effect, the outside linebacker has become a legitimate candidate for departure.

Hunter is right on the edge of “old” by NFL standards, as he will turn 29 in late October. The pass rusher has been dominant over the last five years when healthy, earning three Pro-Bowl nods (2018, 2019, 2022) and tallying six sacks in just seven games played in 2021.

However, Hunter missed all of the 2020 campaign with a neck injury and more than half of the season two years ago with a torn pectoral. He amassed 10.5 sacks and 34 quarterback pressures last season, which is a standout campaign for the average NFL edge rusher, but closer to middling when judged by Pro-Bowl standards.

Adofo-Mensah has shown himself unafraid to part with players coming off of quality seasons by releasing four-time Pro-Bowl running back Dalvin Cook on June 9 in order to clear his $14.1 million salary cap number off the books and save the team $9 million against the 2023 salary cap.

Danielle Hunter Has More Leverage After Vikings Traded Za’Darius Smith to Browns This Offseason

GettyOutside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, looks on prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys in November 2022. 

As a result of cutting Cook, the Vikings now have $17.8 million in salary cap space, which is plenty to piece together a new, multiyear deal for Hunter. In the end, the resolution to the new standoff between the franchise and its best edge rusher is going to come down to value determinations and leverage.

Minnesota traded Hunter’s pass-rushing counterpart Za’Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns last month for a couple of fifth-round draft picks, shipping 10 sacks out the door. Moving on from Hunter would subtract another 10.5 sacks, equaling a total of 20.5 sacks lost ahead of the 2023 campaign. Minnesota tallied just 38 sacks as a team in 2022, with Smith and Hunter combining for roughly 54% of that categorical production.

Hunter’s value to the franchise at a premium position was already high and has only increased since the team parted ways with Smith. Still, Adofo-Mensah is clearly playing the long game and has more rope to do so after winning the NFC North Division and hosting a playoff game in his first year at the helm.

The Vikings have said they are not undertaking a rebuild, which feels something like a half-truth they might be able to sell with a competitive year in 2023 in one of the NFL’s least competitive divisions. Minnesota must consider the sizable contracts it is going to have to offer wide receiver Justin Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson over the next 12 months, which are also going to play roles in how much money the team is willing to spend to keep Hunter happy.

If the decision ultimately falls to trading Hunter, the Vikings could use his value to try and get back a future franchise quarterback in exchange. One possibility is Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers, who could end up the odd man out in a quarterback room that also includes Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold.

Saquon Barkley and Dalvin Cook are the leading indicators that a brave new world has dawned in the NFL.

For years, the league has all but taken out billboards on major highways and full-page ads announcing that the days of running backs mattering are over.

Yet, that hasn’t exactly proven accurate by how teams have conducted business over the past half-decade.

Since the 2018 NFL draft, when Barkley was chosen No. 2 overall by the New York Giants, there have been nine running backs chosen in the first round. That includes the Atlanta Falcons taking Texas standout Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall and the Detroit Lions taking Alabama speedster Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12, this year, before flipping veteran D’Andre Swift to the Philadelphia Eagles in a trade later in the draft.

In an analytics-driven NFL, where running-backs-by-committee have become the norm, it isn’t that running backs don’t matter, it is that the league has decided it is cheaper with far more upside to prioritize youth at the position. Especially given the structure of the rookie wage scale that pays a maximum of $1.57 million from the second round of the draft onward.

“I think it’s just really hard to commit heavy, long-term dollars to that position,” an NFC personnel executive told Heavy.

Never might this new reality be more evident than Cook’s plight.

Dalvin Cook Could Have ‘Some Trouble’ Getting Big Offer

Just last season, Cook rushed for 1,173 yards with 8 touchdowns, while catching 39 passes for 295 yards and 2 touchdowns, while rattling off 30 explosive runs of 10 yards or more and forcing 51 missed tackles. At age 27.

Cook was released on June 9, after the Minnesota Vikings tried and failed to find a trade partner. It will be Alexander Mattison headlining the Vikings’ backfield, set to count $4.6 million against the cap this season, $5.8 million cheaper than Cook would have been.

“I think Cook will have some trouble getting a big commitment,” the executive said.

Gone, it seems, are the days of a bell cow back being the norm for NFL offenses. Back in 2005, there were 10 running backs who logged more than 300 carries, with Clinton Portis, Tiki Barber, Edgerrin James and Shaun Alexander all toting the rock at least 350 times. By comparison, only three running backs had more than 300 rushing attempts last season, with Derrick Henry carding a league-high 349.

Barkley has gone so far as to suggest he would consider holding out the entire season, frustrated by front office leaks and how the New York Giants have handled his contract talks after using the franchise tag on him back in March.

“Me getting tagged, was I upset about it? Nobody wants to get tagged,” Barkley told reporters at his annual youth football camp. “To sit here and say I was frustrated, I was mad, I was upset, what really got me upset was the stories that got leaked out and how misleading they were and how untruthful they were.”

In 2022, finally fully healthy from a torn ACL suffered Week 2 of the 2020 campaign, Barkley rushed for a career-high 1,312 yards with 10 touchdowns.

Whether Barkley’s situation with the Giants will get resolved remains to be seen. So, too, it sounds whether he will step foot onto an NFL field this season under the franchise tag.

“There’s no doubt this league is moving away from big second contracts for the top running backs,” a current NFL agent told Heavy. “If I were advising Saquon, I would do a three-year deal worth $30 million fully guaranteed, if we could get it. That would be three years of the current going rate for a franchise running back.”

There is certainly inherent risk of running backs’ production dipping as their careers progress, and added injury risk from the accumulation of all those touches. But, in an era where carries are largely split between committees, the top players at the position have not seen their compensation rise nearly to the level of other premium positions.

NFL Running Back Expenditure Nearing Kickers

Across the league, the average cap spending at the running back position is just $11 million, while wide receivers check in at $28.4 million on average and tight ends at $11.9 million.

How out of hand has the devaluation of running backs become? The average expenditure at the kicker position is $6.4 million against the cap, and five teams across the league spend $7.1 million or less at the running back position.

Something has to give. It’s either time for NFL teams to reevaluate and recognize the value the premier playmakers at the running back position offer, or else players to drastically change the way they structure their contracts to ensure the most possible guaranteed money upfront.

“It’s all about respect,” Barkley told reporters. “That’s really what it is.”

The NFL at large is bombarding the Minnesota Vikings with trade interest for pass rusher Danielle Hunter, which could provide a path to a new franchise QB.

Tyler Forness of USA Today’s Vikings Wire examined a handful of teams that make the most sense as trade partners for Hunter. Falling inside the top three were the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted Trey Lance with the No. 3 overall pick two seasons ago. However, after the emergence of seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy and the signing of quarterback Sam Darnold, Lance has become a luxury the Niners no longer need.

Minnesota kicked the tires on a deal for Lance at the NFL Combine in March, and if the Vikings are serious about moving Hunter, it’s hard to argue that there is a better return out there than a 23-year-old quarterback with a modern run-pass skill set, high upside, and a desire to get on the field and prove himself.

Vikings Can Make Move for Long-Term Future by Trading for Trey Lance

GettyQuarterback Tua Tagovailoa (left) of the Miami Dolphins and quarterback Trey Lance (right) of the San Francisco 49ers embrace after an NFL game in December 2022.

The Vikings are in the middle of a low-key rebuild after releasing a handful of prominent veterans over the offseason, including wide receiver Adam Thielen and linebacker Eric Kendricks. Minnesota is also making a push to get younger, trading pass rusher Za’Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns and letting cornerback Patrick Peterson bolt for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team also cut four-time Pro-Bowl running back Dalvin Cook on Thursday.

Minnesota can still claim it is playing for both now and the future, after retaining Kirk Cousins for the 2023 season. However, moving Hunter in exchange for Lance would probably slam the door on the idea that the Vikings are trying to win big in the immediate. And, for the record, that’s okay.

The franchise needs to consider the historic contract to which it will almost certainly sign wide receiver Justin Jefferson in the near future. Tight end T.J. Hockenson, who the Vikings acquired ahead of the 2022 trade deadline, is also going to need a new deal, which is likely to come in on the high end of annual average value at the position.

The decision to draft wideout Jordan Addison and elevate running back Alexander Mattison into a starting role has reset the Vikings’ timeline on offense, one that doesn’t appear to include Cousins under center long-term. Lance, however, fits that timeline perfectly.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell has the perfect disposition and areas of expertise to develop a young quarterback, while the Vikings offer the perfect scenario in 2023 to bring in a young player at the position. Lance can play and learn behind Cousins for a season, then step into a starting role in 2024.

Trey Lance’s Contract Shouldn’t be Problematic for Vikings in 2023 After Release of Dalvin Cook

GettyQuarterback Trey Lance of the San Francisco 49ers runs a play during training camp.

Lance has two years remaining on his four-year, $34.1 million rookie contract. Should the Vikings trade for him this season, the team will have the choice to pick up his fifth-year option for 2025 next spring.

The quarterback will carry a salary cap hit of $9.3 million this year, though Minnesota can easily absorb that now. The franchise will have well over $18 million in cap space at its disposal once the $9 million in savings from the release of Cook is added to the books.

Lance has some experience at the professional level, appearing in six games and earning two starts during his rookie season. He also started the first two contests of 2022 before suffering a season-ending ankle injury against the Chicago Bears in Week 2.

For his career, Lance has completed 54.9% of his passes on 102 attempts. He has thrown for 797 yards and five touchdowns compared to three interceptions. He has also rushed the ball 54 times for 235 yards and one score, per Pro Football Reference.

The Minnesota Vikings made the difficult decision to release Dalvin Cook this week to become more financially flexible in future years, leaving the Vikings’ backfield vacant of a Pro Bowl running back.

The decision came down to the fact that Cook wasn’t consistently efficient enough on his runs to warrant a $14.1 million cap hit that ranks second at his position this season. Another team will reap the benefits of signing Cook to a discounted deal.

But the Vikings can with another veteran running back as well.

Longtime Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott remains a free agent after the Cowboys released him to save $10.9 million in cap space. As Elliott wavers in free agency, the league has come to a consensus that overpaying for a running back is not a winning move in today’s NFL.

And that could work to the Vikings’ advantage.

CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr suggested Minnesota could be a potential landing spot for Elliott, who would likely be asked to take a short-yardage role in a Vikings offense that is looking for more efficiency in 2023.

“With the Vikings cutting ties with their own long-time Pro Bowl running back, there is an opening for a player to be a complement to Alexander Mattison. Minnesota drafted Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride the past two years, though, and still has electric return man Kene Nwangwu (nominally a running back) on the roster as well,” Kerr wrote. “If there were a role for Zeke here, it would likely be as a short-yardage back, but we don’t know how interested either he or the Vikings would be in that proposition.”

Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook’s Drop Off Opens Avenue for Teams to Sign Vets for Cheap

GettyEzekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys.

Elliott, 28, is far from the player he once was when he garnered top dollar at his position, signing a six-year, $90 million deal in 2019.

In Elliott’s first four seasons with the Cowboys, he averaged 4.6 yards per attempt and 96.5 yards per game. In the three years since signing that extension, he averaged 4.0 yards per attempt and 60.8 yards per game.

Dallas may have even been a year behind in releasing Elliott who was on an inflated contract that did not match his efficiency running the ball.

Minnesota may be a year ahead of that trend with Cook. Whatever Cook does next season will reflect upon the Vikings. However, the signs of regression had hit Cook as well.

Despite playing all 17 games and showing he can still be an explosive playmaker, Cook led the NFL with 62 rushes of zero or negative yards, nearly a quarter of his total carries, per ESPN. According to Pro Football Focus, Cook left plenty of meat on the bone, gaining 200 yards fewer than an average running back in the league on his opportunities — the most of any starting running back.

The Vikings offense saw itself facing several second- and third-and-longs last season due to not gaining positive chunks on the ground last season. They’ve opted to have Mattison be the primary answer to that dilemma this season, but the addition of Elliott would muddy the picture for opposing defenses, especially in the red zone.

The question remains of what is the price Minnesota would sign Elliott for, which likely won’t be much with extension talks ongoing with Danielle Hunter, T.J. Hockenson and Justin Jefferson.

 Vikings Need Alexander Mattison to Get on Base, Not Hit Home Runs

GettyAlexander Mattison

The decision to move on from Cook follows the trend in baseball of having a committee of players who can get on base being more valuable than a pricey slugger like Cook.

Throughout his career, Mattison has been a physical inside runner who will take what’s given to him.

“[Mattison] is a physical inside runner, having averaged 1.91 yards per rush after contact — slightly higher than Cook’s mark of 1.77 over that period — but only one of his 404 career carries has gone beyond 24 yards,” ESPN’s Kevin Seifert wrote.

Mattison leading the Vikings backfield won’t be as flashy as it once was with Cook, but the move was to keep the offense more versatile by creating more advantageous downs and distances.

Former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Za’Darius Smith chimed in Thursday, June 8, on the trade rumors swirling around his former pass-rushing teammate Danielle Hunter.

The day before, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Vikings were fielding calls from numerous teams interested in dealing for Hunter, who is bound for free agency in 2024 should Minnesota fail to extend him before then. Reactions to the news varied across the NFL landscape and included a cryptic tweet from Smith.

Smith didn’t post a comment on the situation, opting instead to express his reaction to the development by simply tweeting the “👀”  emoji.

Danielle Hunter Following Similar Path That Got Za’Darius Smith Traded by Vikings

GettyFormer Minnesota Vikings edge rusher Za’Darius Smith (left) and outside linebacker Danielle Hunter (right) work on drills during practice. 

What Smith meant exactly by his tweet is open to interpretation, though it would be more than a little surprising if the Vikings chose to move on from two Pro-Bowl edge rushers during the same offseason.

Smith asked out of Minnesota after just one year with the team, eventually getting his way when the franchise traded him to the Cleveland Browns in May. Hunter followed in Smith’s footsteps, not by demanding a trade, but by expressing his discontentedness with the franchise and his current deal by deleting all Vikings-related content from his Instagram account in April. Smith employed the same tactic in January.

Hunter doubled-down on his position for a new contract by skipping voluntary OTAs in May. He is entering the final year of a five-year, $72 million deal that will pay him just $5.5 million in total salary and bonuses in 2023.

Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron contended that the Vikings’ willingness to consider trading Hunter after releasing running back Dalvin Cook on Thursday indicates that Minnesota general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has conceded that his team can’t contend sustainably as constructed — citing the ongoing issues presented by yet again running out a good, but not great, starting quarterback in Kirk Cousins.

Tyler Forness of USA Today’s Vikings Wire went further, saying that if Vikings brass lets Hunter get away, it would signify the front office’s “first failure” under Adofo-Mensah’s leadership.

Dalvin Cook Release Makes Re-Signing Danielle Hunter More Feasible for Vikings

GettyThe Minnesota Vikings released running back Dalvin Cook on Thursday, June 8, 2023. 

Bringing Hunter back to Minnesota long-term became much more feasible on Thursday, following the team’s decision to part ways with its four-time Pro-Bowl running back.

The move opens up $9 million on the Vikings’ salary cap sheet, bumping their available funds to more than $18 million in 2023. Scratching Hunter’s salary from the books this year and replacing it with a new deal will allow the front office a considerable amount of flexibility with the cap, depending on how the team ultimately structures the deal.

In short, after cutting Cook the Vikings have more than enough money and options to bring Hunter back on a multiyear deal. Should they choose not to do so, the conversation becomes decidedly different.

Hunter made the third Pro Bowl of his career in 2022 on the strength of 10.5 sacks and 34 quarterback pressures, per Pro Football Reference. He will turn 29 years old in the middle of the upcoming season and while he suffered a torn pectoral in 2021 following a neck issue that cost him all of 2020, Hunter has proven his ability to bounce back from injury and play at a high level.

Should the Vikings trade Hunter, they will need to find a way to replace the total of 20.5 sacks and 71 quarterback pressures for which he and Smith combined last season.

The Minnesota Vikings appear to be in the early stages of a rebuilding process. First, reports surfaced that they were getting ready to release star running back Dalvin Cook and now there are talks of them looking to trade All-Pro pass rusher Danielle Hunter.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Vikings are fielding calls on Hunter after talks stalled on a long-term contract extension. The 28-year-old outside linebacker is due only $4.9 million and becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2023 campaign. Hunter would be a steal for any team in need of pass-rushing help.

“A somewhat murky future for Danielle Hunter in Minnesota. Here’s my understanding of where it stands: sources say that teams have been calling the Minnesota Vikings regarding Danielle Hunter,” Rapoport said. “He has, in fact, generated some trade interest. Now this is something that we’ve heard rumors about, really, for the last I would say several months as we try to figure out why. There are a couple of reasons. First of all, he is really, really good. Teams usually like really, really good players at premium positions like pass rusher.”

Rapoprt added that talks on a long-term contract extension haven’t been progressing in Hunter’s favor, prompting the Vikings to reluctantly shop him around. The trade interest in the three-time Pro Bowler was classified as “pretty serious.”

Eagles Had Interest in ‘Freakish’ Player in 2015

The Philadelphia Eagles aren’t currently in the market for another pass-rusher, but when an elite player becomes available you know Howie Roseman’s ears always perk up. He values defensive line play above all else, especially guys who can rush the quarterback with ease. Hunter fits the bill: 71 sacks in 102 career games, including 10.5 sacks in 2022. He’s a stud.

Plus, the Eagles actually scouted Hunter in depth ahead of the 2015 NFL draft. They brought the 6-foot-5, 235-pounder in for a pre-draft workout and then-coach Chip Kelly attended his pro day at LSU.

Here is a scouting report of Hunter’s strengths, via NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein:

Freakish combination of size, athleticism and explosiveness. Has long arms with jarring power behind his hands. When technique is right, he can stack and overpower tackles at point of attack. Fluid and agile in space. Uses length to bat down passes and disrupt the passing lane … Off-the-field character considered “squeaky clean” by NFL scouts.

There appeared to be serious interest, then the Vikings drafted Hunter in Round 3 (88th overall). The Eagles took linebacker Jordan Hicks four picks to Hunter coming off the board. Hicks was a starter on the 2017 Super Bowl championship squad.

Eagles Loaded for Bear on Defensive Line

The need for Danielle Hunter on the Eagles’ defensive line is scant to none. They dumped a lot of resources into solidifying the trenches this offseason, including two first-round picks (Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith) while re-upping Brandon Graham for one more year. He’s expected to start alongside Pro Bowler Josh Sweat at defensive end.

Philadelphia also has defensive end Derek Barnett on the mend from season-ending ACL surgery, along with high expectations for third-year defensive tackles Milton Williams and Marlon Tuipulotu. They are very much loaded for bear in the trenches.

After making the surprise move to extend defensive tackle Ed Oliver to a four-year, $68 million deal, and snagging former Los Angeles Rams standout edge, Leonard Floyd, the Buffalo Bills continued to shake up their defense ahead of mandatory minicamp.

On Tuesday, June 7, the Bills announced they were signing former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler. The Vikings’ former third-round pick from the 2020 NFL draft has appeared in 35 games and made 26 starts since he joined the team.

Pro Football Focus analyst Sam Monson dubbed Dantzler the Vikings’ “secret superstar” heading into the 2022 NFL Season. “Perennially in [former Vikings head coach] Mike Zimmer’s doghouse, Dantzler has been the best-performing Vikings cornerback in recent seasons and, given his youth, the one that would seem to have the most potential going forward,” Monson predicted.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder went on to record 50 total tackles, five passes defended, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 10 game appearances last season. Throughout his three years with the Vikings, Dantzler tallied three interceptions and 149 total tackles. After getting waived by the Vikings on March 10, the 24-year-old signed with the Washington Commanders three days later, but was released in May.

In order to make room for the Mississippi State alum, the Bills cut cornerback Kyler McMichael, who they signed a two-year reserve/futures contract in January worth $1.67 million, per OvertheCap.com.

The UNC alum initially signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent last year, but after failing to make the roster, signed with the Bills practice squad in September 2022.

While SB Nation‘s Sean Murphy described McMichael as an “athletic” corner that could develop into a “viable” defender in Buffalo, the already stacked competition at the position made the 23-year-old’s chances of making the active roster very slim.

Cameron Dantzler Will Compete to Start Opposite Cornerback Tre’Davious White

GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 08: Cornerback Cameron Dantzler Sr. #3 of the Minnesota Vikings wears a Damar Hamlin shirt prior to the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on January 08, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

According to Dantzler’s Pro Football Focus stats, he works primarily as an outside linebacker, with 1,618 defensive snaps at that position, only 38 snaps played in the slot.

While there’s no doubt Pro Bowl veteran Tre’Davious White start at left cornerback, there’s a wide open competition for the player starting opposite him, as the Bills’ former first-round pick, Kaiir Elam, has yet to prove he’s a full-time starter.

The Athletic‘s Joe Buscaglia wrote on June 6 that Elam is the “presumed favorite” to take over the role, “but there have been little hints over the last three weeks that it’s anything but an open-and-shut case.” When Bills general manager Brandon Beane was asked about his progress after practice on Tuesday, he strongly insinuated that Elam, who’s also competing with Dane Jackson and Christian Benford, did not have the starting job on lock.

“I thought there were some rookie things that he did in practice that sometimes said, ‘Don’t do that,’ and just some learning things. But, in all fairness to him, I thought he, in games, he cleaned up a lot of that,” Beane said. “So really it’s just getting that to translate and being more consistent player in practice, which I think he’s showing.”

“I wish I could say like, ‘Hey, Kaiir’s not putting all his effort in or he’s not studying.’ He is all in as much as anybody. And I think, you will see him continue to progress,” Beane said. “You know us here, though. We’re going to make everyone earn it. It doesn’t matter where you were selected or what your salary is. And so Kaiir understands that and he’s prepared for the challenge.”

Brandon Beane Hinted at Signing a New Player, But Only ‘Cheap’ Ones

GettyBills general manager Brandon Beane looks on prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on September 19, 2021.

After extending Oliver and signing Floyd, Beane told reporters on Tuesday that Buffalo didn’t have the salary cap flexibility to make another significant addition, however, he hinted at Dantzler’s signing. Beane said they “just worked out a couple of DBs” and had “another one coming in,” as reported by ESPN.

While Dantzler’s contract details have not yet been revealed, his deal will be on the low end. Beane estimated that the Bills were $3 to $5 million “over the cap as currently constructed once they get to a 53-man roster,” WGR 550’s Sal Capaccio tweeted. “Right now, with NFL rule of top-51 counting, he says they have about just over $4M available.”

“I’m going to keep looking and if someone wants to come for cheap, come on down,” he said, per 13WHAM‘s Dan Fetes.

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook could potentially join forces with the Vikings’ biggest bane of the past decade — Aaron Rodgers.

KSTP’s Darren Wolfson reported on June 6 that the New York Jets have surfaced as a team that is “definitely interested” in trading for the four-time Pro Bowl running back that has remained in a contract dispute with Minnesota this offseason in a win-now move following Rodgers’ blockbuster trade to New York this offseason.

“A new team that I’ve heard is definitely interested, the New York Jets,” Wolfson said on SKOR North’s Mackey and Judd, adding that New York could use more weapons at running back with Breece Hall recovering from a torn ACL. “The Jets have enormous expectations with Aaron Rodgers. They could use an upgrade at the running back position.”

New York pushed all its chips in by trading for Rodgers and can round out a talented offense with a back like Cook to complement Hall. The Jets also have the cap space to take on Cook’s contract.

Trade Proposal Lands Vikings a 4th-Round Pick From Jets

GettyNew York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers could reunite with former NFC North rival Dalvin Cook if New York can convince the Vikings of a trade this offseason.

Ahead of Tuesday’s report that the Jets indeed have interest in Cook, Alex Kay of Bleacher Report floated a trade proposal in May that would see the Vikings swap Cook for the Jets’ fourth-round pick in the 2024 draft.

The Jets’ interest in Cook comes in the wake of trade talks with the Miami Dolphins that have fizzled out since March as more teams are beginning to cement their rosters and lack the cap space to take on Cook. New York is an exception with $24.8 million in available cap space, per Over The Cap.

“The four-time Pro Bowler is one of the most expensive players at his position, with only Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey earning more annually. While Cook’s contributions are undoubtedly strong, it may be tough for Minnesota to find a taker,” Kay wrote. “Teams haven’t been willing to spend big on running backs in the modern NFL, although a club desperate to win during a small championship window may be willing to pony up.”

Vikings Driving Bidding War for Dalvin Cook

GettyGeneral Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center in February 2023.

If cap space were the only concern, the Vikings would have already parted ways with Cook.

Instead, Minnesota has held steady, waiting for a team to make the right offer.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that other teams believe the Vikings are “holding out” on Cook to create a bidding war for his services. A few ideal trade partners include the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Dolphins (despite trade talks failing to fruit a deal back in March.)

“Teams I talked to believe [the Vikings are] open to a trade and maybe holding out for that. So, they held onto [Cook’s] $14 million cap hit for a while now and can do so a little bit longer in the short-term,” Fowler said, per Bleacher Report. “But they can save $11 million on their salary cap if they trade him now that we’re past June 1. And so, should be some interest there if they can shake it out.”

The Minnesota Vikings are holding onto Dalvin Cook until they can find a suitable trade partner for the four-time Pro Bowl running back — and apparently, they had come “very close” to dealing Cook back in March.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported on June 5 that Minnesota and the Miami Dolphins “came very close to a trade that would’ve made Cook a Dolphin back in March.”

The fizzled-out trade talks reveal a divide on how the two teams, both under second-year head coaches, are building their offenses.

Dolphins, Vikings Divided on How to Use Dalvin Cook

GettyMinnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook cuts upfield.

In Breer’s The Monday Morning Quarterback column, he detailed the difference in how the Vikings view Cook versus the Dolphins’ point of view.

“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 added. “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.”

Playing every game last season for the first time in his career, Cook showed he still can create explosive plays as one of his position’s most prominent playmakers. He broke off two of the longest runs of his career a 53-yard score in Week 6 against the Dolphins and an 81-yard touchdown in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills.

However, last season, he also led the NFL with 62 carries that either lost or did not gain a yard, per ESPN. Those runs limited the play-calling possibilities for Kevin O’Connell, who often faced second- and third-and-long. The Vikings have opted to make Mattison their three-down back in hopes Mattison can create more favorable situations on later downs.

Mattison is a significant downgrade in explosive potential. The longest touchdown of his career went for 14 yards, compared to Cook’s eight career touchdowns of 20 or more yards.

It remains to be seen if Cook is willing to split more carries in the Vikings backfield and take a pay cut after being the franchise’s feature back for the past six years, which will be the ongoing development this summer if Minnesota cannot find a trade suitor soon.

Vikings, Dolphins at a Standoff in Trade Talks

GettyGeneral Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah of the Minnesota Vikings speaks to the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 28, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

If the Vikings had planned to cut Cook, they would have already used those cap savings to fortify the roster during the prime free-agency period.

Instead, Minnesota has held steady, waiting for a team to make the right offer for Cook. But since the talks with Miami did not bear any finalized trade, it’s been quiet on the Cook front.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that other teams believe the Vikings are “holding out” on Cook to create a bidding war for his services. A few ideal trade partners include the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Dolphins.

“Teams I talked to believe [the Vikings are] open to a trade and maybe holding out for that. So, they held onto [Cook’s] $14 million cap hit for a while now and can do so a little bit longer in the short-term,” Fowler said, per Bleacher Report. “But they can save $11 million on their salary cap if they trade him now that we’re past June 1. And so, should be some interest there if they can shake it out.”

But this late in the offseason, many team rosters are nearly finalized and up against the cap. Miami may have already remedied its need for more explosives by drafting Texas A&M running back Devon Achane in the third round.

“For those asking if Dalvin Cook to the Dolphins is a done deal, I have been led to believe it’s not a done deal,” Miami Herald reporter Barry Jackson wrote on June 2. “Could Cook end up here? Absolutely. It’s certainly a real 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.”