Dalvin Cook Rumors: RB Has 'a Lot of Interest'; 'Willing to Be Patient' on Contract

The Minnesota Vikings released Dalvin Cook on June 9, and now the star running back is one of the hottest names on the free-agent market.

But while Cook has generated "a lot of interest" since his release from the Vikings, the four-time Pro Bowler is expected to take his time before coming to an agreement on a new contract, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on SportsCenter:

"I'm told he's willing to be patient here, not in a major rush to sign. And he could wait for Barkley and those other franchise-tag running backs because that's new contract comps that he can work with to see what's out there. He's been linked to Miami. There could be teams like Denver that could be looking for an extra running back. So, a lot of interest so far. I'm told that Dalvin feels really good coming off that torn labrum surgery. He believes he'll be able to absorb contact even better this year."

Fowler reported Saturday on SportsCenter that Cook might wait until the franchise-tag window closes on July 17 before making a decision on his next destination.

"He's in a little bit of a wait-and-see mode right now," Fowler said. "No official visits to teams that I'm aware of, and we talk about the franchise tag with [Saquon] Barkley, Cook can actually wait until July 17 [to sign], I'm told, because you've got three running backs on the franchise tag—Tony Pollard, Josh Jacobs."

Cook spent his entire six-year career with the Vikings before being released.

The 27-year-old enters the 2023 season having earned a Pro Bowl selection in four consecutive campaigns. He rushed for 1,000-plus yards in each of those seasons and is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he rushed for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games, in addition to catching 39 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns.

What's even more impressive about Cook's 2022 season is that he played the entire year with a torn labrum before undergoing shoulder surgery in February.

He said during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show (h/t NFL.com's Eric Edholm) Tuesday that his shoulder is feeling good and that he's in no rush to sign a new deal.

"My shoulder is feeling great," Cook said. "So, it's like a waiting game right now at this point. Just trying to find that right situation, and I don't think it's a rush or anything. I'm feeling great, being (in) the right shape and stuff like that just to play for a football team, that's going to be the best thing. I'm not in a rush to go sign with nobody. I'm trying to find the right fit for me and my family."

While Cook will generate plenty of interest this summer, he has been heavily linked to his hometown Miami Dolphins with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reporting earlier this month that the two sides have "mutual interest."

"I want the value," Cook told Eisen about what he's hoping to find with a new team. "I want somebody who values Dalvin Cook. I want somebody that wants me to be there and give me the ball. I just want to go into the right situation so I can go help somebody win."

While the Dolphins appear to be an option for Cook, there's likely to be plenty of competition for his services.