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Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook. Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Top three landing spots for Vikings RB Dalvin Cook

By Vinny Somma | Last updated 5/16/23

Free agency has passed. The NFL Draft is behind us. Yet, Dalvin Cook's future with the Minnesota Vikings remains as murky as ever.

Coming off a career-worst 4.4 yards-per-carry average in 2022, Cook will turn 28 before the start of the regular season and carries a $14 million cap hit.

On SportsCenter Sunday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that the Vikings are eager to "do right" by Cook, adding that the team "wants him to go to a place where he can play and be happy, whether that's via trade or eventual release or even staying in Minnesota."

Beyond Cook at running back, the Vikings have Alexander Mattison and former UAB star DeWayne McBride, who was drafted in the seventh round last month.

Here are potential landing spots for Cook should the Vikings move on from the four-time Pro Bowler.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys used a sixth-round draft pick on rookie Deuce Vaughn while the door appears to remain open for an Ezekiel Elliott reunion. Still, as Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram highlighted, pairing Cook with Tony Pollard may be too tantalizing for owner Jerry Jones and the Cowboys to pass up.

This is now Arms race and job is acquire the most talent. A duo of Pollard and Cook would be nice https://t.co/A0anMgDtHr
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) May 13, 2023

Cook, who has 683 fewer touches than Elliott in his professional career, would deliver more juice to the running game than what a declining Elliott has to offer. Cook's ability to handle the dirty work also would allow Pollard to continue to do what he does best: serve as the electric dual-threat weapon.

Miami Dolphins

Previously linked by ESPN's Dan Graziano before the NFL Draft, a Cook-Dolphins pairing would have its obvious merits. A former collegiate star at Florida State, Cook is a South Florida native who attended high school in Dade County. As far as the fit on the field, Cook would immediately give the Dolphins one of the AFC's best group of skill position players, pairing with the receiving duo of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Miami used a third-round pick on Devon Achane in April. However, the explosive rookie's 188-pound frame raises serious questions regarding his ability to handle a sizeable workload. Veterans Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are solid but unspectacular.

Buffalo Bills

If Minnesota truly wants Cook to be happy, a move to Buffalo might be ideal. With the Bills, Cook could serve as the final piece to put the team over the top in the AFC. Plus, he could play in the same backfield with his brother, James.

After letting former starter Devin Singletary walk in free agency, the Bills are left with an underwhelming backfield consisting of James Cook, Damien Harris, Latavius Murray and Nyheim Hines — not exactly a four-headed monster that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.

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