Here's what appears to be happening with Dalvin Cook, Za'Darius Smith
Friday came and went without any major Minnesota Vikings news. Sure, the team signed longtime Packers defensive lineman Dean Lowry but there was zero movement with running back Dalvin Cook and edge rusher Za'Darius Smith.
There were reports suggesting Cook and Smith would have portions of their 2023 contracts guaranteed by the end of the day Friday, leading many to wonder if the Vikings would trade or release one or both.
Instead, radio silence. Nothing happened. So what gives?
According to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, who was a guest on KFAN radio in the Twin Cities on Friday, Cook already had $2 million guaranteed for injury and nothing further was guaranteed by the end of business on Friday.
"I don't think he would've been denied that money if they had cut him by 3 o'clock today because of that injury guarantee," Goessling said. "That money was already locked in. So what it does do, if you've got a trade offer or you decide you want to move on at some point you've got a little more time because you're not locking yourself into anything today that you weren't already locked into."
According to OverTheCap, if the Vikings cut Cook before June 1 they'll save about $5.9 million while he costs the team a $8.2 million dead cap hit. But that's cheaper than the $14.1 million cap hit he'll cost the Vikings if he stays on his current contract.
Remember, Cook's future is up in the air because he's on an expensive contract with a team that is pressed up against the salary cap and just signed running back Alexander Mattison to a two-year, $7 million deal.
Cook, 27, has rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 touchdowns in six seasons with the Vikings, in addition to 1,794 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. Since 2018 only Derrick Henry (7,101 yards), Nick Chubb (6,341 yards) and Ezekiel Elliott (5,648 yards) have rushed for more yards than Cook (5,639).
As for Za'Darius Smith, his future with Minnesota has been in the spotlight since he listed his Minnesota home for sale last month, and then publicly thanked the Vikings and his teammates in a social media post on March 9, which preceded a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport who said Smith had asked the Vikings to release him.
The 31-year-old carries a $15.49 million cap hit in 2023. Although it's not confirmed, it's widely believed that $5.05 million of Smith's 2023 contract became guaranteed on Friday, so if the Vikings were going to cut him it would've made sense to do it before that money was in Smith's bank account.
Goessling still thinks a move could come.
"I still think there is going to be something that shakes out there. I think they have been looking at, possibly a trade," said Goessling about Smith. "They would still recoup some money if they were to cut him but I don't think they're going to do that at this point. If they were going to do it they would've done it before this afternoon.
"And they have indicated, at least the sense I've gotten from the people I've talked to who have talked to them, is that they don't want to cut him. I still think we're going to possibly have a trade there, I think there could be a move coming for him as we go. But as of now, we don't have anything."
There are a lot of unknowns with Minnesota's edge rushers. Marcus Davenport is the new guy on the block after signing as a free agent, Danielle Hunter is going to need a new contract before next season (probably) and Smith's situation is up in the air.
Smith was a force for the first half of the 2022-23 season, generating 6.1 quarterback pressures per game in Weeks 1-10 before that dipped to 3.3 pressures per game Week 11 through the playoffs. His first half was so good that he still finished fifth in the NFL with 80 QB pressures.
