I believe each year, each team, gets 2 Post-June tags where the can release players before June while gaining the benefits of post-June of their dead cap hit going over two years.


If the Vikings haven't already used those, then I would assume this is the negotiating tactic to get Cook to take a salary cut (like the Packers got RB Jones to earlier this off-season, probably will the suggestion they might have to release him if they can't lower the salary).


For one or two off-season there, RBs were clearly being WELL over previous market price and the future market was either going to go up to meet it, or stay down and those RBs would later be asked to take pay cuts.


Cook is a very good RB, but is he #3 overall? As that's how he's being paid...

Vikings RB Depth chart
Cook, Dalvin 17/2
Mattison, Alexander 19/3
Chandler, Ty 22/5
McBride, DeWayne 23/7
Nwangwu, Kene 21/4

So since 2019, they're been drafting a RB every year except 2020. With Alexander Mattison being the top backup, but while he's good, he doesn't have the explosion that Cook does.


Vikings probably want to keep Cook, just not at the current salary, and hoping he'll agree to a salary cut before June... and teams have already spent their FA cash and drafted so less options at this time of year for Cook.