The Minnesota Vikings are currently the worst team in the NFC North, with a record of 4-8, mainly due to their abysmally poor play on offense.
It’s times like these that fans reminisce on the past, and most Vikings fans remember the days of Kirk Cousins, a young Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Dalvin Cook commanding their offense. Cook was one of the best running backs in the league at one time, but he eventually disappeared from the spotlight. Here’s a look at what happened to Cook and what he’s currently up to.
What Happened to Dalvin Cook?
Cook was originally selected with the 41st overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, and he eventually became a threat out of the backfield.
In six seasons with the Vikings, Cook rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 221 passes for 1,794 yards and five touchdowns. According to PFSN’s RBi, his best season was in 2020, when he ranked 1st in the league. The running back had a grade of B+ and an impact score of 88.4, as he rushed for 1,557 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 44 passes for 361 yards with a touchdown.
Despite his importance to the offense, the team cut him in the 2023 offseason due to his high cap hit. Afterwards, he signed with the New York Jets, where he only started in one game and had 292 scrimmage yards for no touchdowns.
With his limited playing time, the Jets and Cook decided it would be best to part ways. He then signed with the Baltimore Ravens and did nothing. He only played in one playoff game, rushing eight times for 23 yards.
Following that, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad but only played in two games for the team. He rushed eight times for 20 yards and caught a pass for 10 yards. He was ultimately cut again, and that was the last time he played in the NFL.
Currently, Cook is a free agent. Not much is known about his actions outside of football, but it’s likely a safe bet that his football career is over.
Cook is 30 years old, and unless he’s signed this season, he will be 31 years old by the time next season starts. He’s over-the-hump in terms of age for running backs, meaning it is unlikely that any team will look to take a shot on him, especially when there are younger options available.
