One team drops out of race for Vikings' Dalvin Cook

There has been a lot of discussion about where Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook could end up this offseason. After being selected by the Vikings in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft and spent the first six seasons of his career with the franchise, it looks as though his time with the franchise will be coming to an end.

Whether Dalvin Cook is on the move via trade or release is anyone’s guess at this point. The Vikings are seemingly holding out for a trade partner, but none have stepped up to the plate as of yet. That matters because the reported interest in him differs depending on how Minnesota moves him.

One team that we can cross off as a landing spot via trade for Dalvin Cook is the Denver Broncos. Mike Klis of 9News shared during a recent mailbag that he isn’t hearing the Broncos are interested in Dalvin Cook despite some eyebrow-raising transactions on their roster involving running backs.

“The three running backs waived — Tyreik McAllister, Jacques Patrick and Damarea Crockett — occurred in a six-day span this past week. The Broncos have only five running backs on their 90-man roster, and with Javonte Williams still recovering from his torn ACL — although seemingly recovering well — the Broncos could use one or two more.

As to whether the Broncos pick up a bona fide like, say, Dalvin Cook, as so many have speculated, that’s not what I’m hearing.

Know this: There is no way the Broncos trade for Cook, at least not without a restructured contract agreement. Cook is due to make $11M in cash this year with a cap hit of $14.01M. The Broncos, after leading the NFL in free-agent spending this spring, only have $11.7M in salary cap space.”

In addition to the monetary concerns that the Broncos would have trying to bring on Dalvin Cook, their tradable assets are also limited. Denver has given up a ton of draft capital the last two offseason acquiring quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Sean Payton. 

Already without a second-round pick in 2024, it is hard to imagine ownership being okay with trading away more draft picks unless there is a plan to recoup some. Klis does admit, however, should Dalvin Cook get released, things could change for the Broncos.

“Should the Vikings release Cook — and that seems to be what the multitude of interested teams are waiting — then maybe Broncos’ general manager George Paton, who was part of the Vikings’ front-office team that selected Cook in the second round of the 2017 draft, makes a phone call.”

That is a logical connection to make as front office personnel is always seemingly willing to reunite with past acquaintances. Alas, at the end of the day, Denver doesn’t sound like where Dalvin Cook will land. 

Klis hasn’t heard that the Broncos will definitively be in on Dalvin Cook even if he is released. Right now, all signs are pointing to the Florida State product heading back home and landing with the Miami Dolphins.