The Vikings have a huge decision regarding running back Dalvin Cook.
There were reports earlier this week that Cook will hold out if he doesn’t get a contract extension.
While Cook is very good and probably the most important of the team’s offense outside of Kirk Cousins, we know that giving running backs a lot of money is not always a good idea.
There’s no denying that Cook is one of the better running backs in the league. He’s averaged more than 100 yards per scrimmage per game during his career and he’s coming off a season in which he ran for 1,135 yards and 13 touchdowns to go with 53 catches for 519 yards.
The talent is there. But the concern that Cook has missed 19 games in the first three years of his career is very much also there. Paying running backs is a risk. Paying running backs who can’t stay healthy is irresponsible.
Cook deserves a new contract, surely. But does he deserve to be paid like a top-three player at his position? His talent might be in that arena, but his production hasn’t matched that because he hasn’t been able to stay on the field.