CBS Sports Insider Jason La Canfora recently discussed the Dalvin Cook situation, and one of his ideas was pretty unique.
La Canfora suggested that a reasonable solution would be giving Cook the franchise tag for 2021.
Here’s what he said:
“The Vikings purchase Cook’s franchise tag year (2021) and one more year at an average value of around $12.5M or so a year. Let’s say $12.5M in 2021 and $14M in 2022. So roughly $27M in new money right there. Add in the $1.3M he was already set to make this year. We’re just short of $30M. Put $10M in a signing bonus that allowed him to take home $11.3M in 2020, guarantee the $12.5M in 2021 and guarantee the $14M in 2022 for everything but injury, with an injury guarantee that kicks in a [few] days into the 2022 league year. “
I think that deal could be beneficial for both parties. Minnesota doesn’t get a huge cap hit, but Cook’s salary and signing bonus adds up to a pretty good deal for a running back.
There is one caveat: I’m not sure whether Cook is going to be pleased with the franchise tag for next season. If it is $12.5 million, that’s a little below what Cook reportedly wants: $13 million.
If the Vikings say they will franchise tag him, but there’s no promise of a long-term deal down the road, then if you’re Cook, why would you do that? Not saying that will be the case and if the team presented a deal like the one La Canfora mentioned, then I could see Cook taking it, but the franchise tag given in isolation might not be a good idea.
You’ve also got to consider that while there isn’t much precedent for players not signing the tender, the one who did that in 2017 was a running back. Le’Veon Bell refused to sign the franchise tag after being hit with it for the second consecutive season by the Steelers.
Vikings safety Anthony Harris was hit with the franchise tag this offseason, and ended up signing his tender despite reportedly wanting a long-term deal at times. The tag also gives the player and team flexibility to work out something during the season, when the player is being paid pretty well. So maybe the tag could do that in Cook’s situation.
We’ll see what Cook and the Vikings end up doing. It should be an interesting offseason regardless.