If Vikings move on from Cook, running back room has lots of intrigue
EAGAN — Decision time is on the horizon for the Minnesota Vikings with running back Dalvin Cook.
Is he staying or going?
Throughout the offseason there have been numerous reports that the Vikings are looking for a trade partner for the veteran Pro Bowler but they either haven’t been able to find a suitor or haven’t received an offer that makes it worth pulling the trigger.
While Cook returning remains possible, it would likely need to be on a re-worked deal that does not include his current $14 million cap hit.
The issue with bringing him back as RB1 is that it would limit the opportunities the Vikings can give to their bullpen of young running backs, all of whom were recently drafted by the team.
Since Cook hasn’t been present for any of the club’s offseason activities, including Tuesday’s practice which was open to the media, the less-experienced runners have had a chance to make a strong impression. That starts with long-time Cook backup Alexander Mattison, who was a free agent but quickly elected to return to the Vikings.
“This spring it’s been really good to see Alex Mattison take a few more reps and really have that all-three-down type of ownership that he’s been capable of for a long time,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said following Tuesday’s practice.
Last year Mattison was only on the field for 304 offensive snaps and carried the ball just 74 times but made enough of an impression for the Vikings to sign him to a two-year contract worth $7 million. In years past he has proven to be a reliable spot starter to Cook. In 11 games in which Mattison has rushed more than 10 times, he’s only averaged under 4.0 yards per carry twice. Last year he received PFF’s 15th highest rushing grade out of 62 starters or rotational players.
While there’s evidence Mattison can be a three-down player considering he’s a proven pass catcher and blocker, the three backs behind him — Kene Nwangwu, Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride — each have reason to think they could have significant roles either in 2023 or the near future.
“I think between Kene [Nwangwu] and Ty [Chandler] there already seems to be a nice competition brewing there because both those guys are having really solid springs and showing their versatility,” O’Connell said.
Nwangwu, a fourth-round pick in 2021, has quickly turned into one of the best kick returners in the NFL, averaging more than 28 yards per return with three touchdowns in just 53 attempts. On the ground, however, he hasn’t seen much action. As a rookie he carried the ball 13 times and then in his first year under O’Connell he ran nine times — four coming in a blowout against the Cowboys and five versus the Bears in Week 18.
There may be a niche to be carved out for Nwangwu. He has 4.3 40-yard dash speed and scored a 99th percentile Relative Athletic Score at a position loaded with great athletes. But he was also that fast last year and didn’t find his way into the offense. In order to find space in the Vikings’ offense, Nwangwu and Co. will need to prove they can handle all aspects of the position.
“To me, it’s about their ability to win when they are running routes and against this defense you gotta be able to step in there and block a little bit in pass pro[tection],” O’Connell said. “It’s not something we can get real reps out of without pads on right now but you can certainly be working your technique and fundamentals.”
Chandler was a fifth-round pick of the Vikings in 2022 and instantly put his name on the map during last preseason. He rushed 15 times for an impressive 113 yards and one touchdown. During the regular season, the North Carolina star saw some special teams action but an injury kept him out for a good chunk of the year and he only ran six times for 20 yards in the final game. Still, he did enough to impress O’Connell.
“You saw a ton of natural instincts as a runner show up,” the Vikings’ head coach said. “Toughness, great finish. We have seen his impact in the pass game and his overall football IQ show up from Day 1, that was a huge reason why we kind of fell in love with him a year ago. He’s having a really good offseason.”
In this year’s draft, the Vikings took DeWayne McBride in the seventh round. He hasn’t been able to participate as he recovers from an injury but can be expected to jockey for position once we reach training camp. His balance and explosiveness with the ball give him a shot to stand out right away.
If the Vikings move on from Cook in the coming days, the camp competition in the backfield will be a source of close examination. They will be painting by numbers, looking for either the next Cook to emerge (as many mid/late-round RBs have over the years) as a star or to find the proper roles for each player to contribute and improve the running game from where it was last year.
If he returns, everyone will have to wait another year. It’s possible that Cook returning could have better short-term results but also keep the Vikings from learning more about one of their most intriguing positions. We should find out soon which way the RB room is headed.
