J. Kapp 11 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 9:33 am
StumpHunter wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 8:26 am
How so? After he is cut this off season, he will have made about 8 million per year over his 3 seasons here, while having asignificantly higher impact on his offense than most RBs out there and who more importantly, remained more healthy than most RBs out there.
Cook's contract was actually a good signing, and this is coming from one of Rick's biggest detractors.
I'm not talking about the past. I'm talking about the future. His contract wasn't just for the past 3 seasons, 2 of which were actually part of his previous contract. It also extends the next two years into the future.
Cook, if kept on this contract, will cost the Vikings $30 million to the cap in 2023 and 2024. Only AFTER 2024 is Cook's contract completely devoid of dead money. THAT is why his contract is so bad. For his seasons 8 and 9, a running back will cost $30 million to the cap, with total dead cap of nearly $10 million. Please explain to me how that is a good contract ... especially given the success of late-round picks such as Elijah Mitchell.
You are too hung up on those final years when they were probably never going to get paid out. In the end he will be cut this off season and walk away making 8 million per year on his extension, which
includes the dead cap hit the Vikings will pay out this year.
And for the record, Dalvin Cook was not that good this year. He ranked LAST in the NFL in total rushing yards over expected. Last. He broke two long runs and one long screen pass. He had just 5 rushes of at least 20 yards.
Being last in that stat will happen when it is a stat based partially on run blocking grade and the Vikings are incorrectly graded out as the 3rd best run blocking team in the NFL. Better than SF and Philly according to PFF, but not anyone with a working pair of eyes. His backup averaged .6 yards per attempt fewer running behind that same elite run blocking Oline and the offense stalled nearly every time he was off the field. He was still effective as a runner in his final season with the Vikings.
Overthecap put his valuation at $8.5 million ... his cap hit was $12 million.
But his AAV is only going to end up being 8 million per year.
It's a bad contract. It's one of the worst contracts for a running back I've ever seen. Half of the $60 million total comes in 2023 and 2024, when he is clearly past his prime. I will be stunned if they don't move off him, eat the dead cap, and use the cap savings to sign players they actually need.
Which is what makes it a good contract, because the Vikings don't have to pay those final two years. They got his best years and can move on now. Just like was intended when it was originally written up.