x
Breaking News
More () »

McNiff's Riffs: Vikes hope Cook helps history repeat itself

Two running backs taken after Dalvin Cook was selected by the Vikings in the 2017 draft have already become NFL superstars. But before Vikings fans hit the panic button, they should consider the saga of a runner from the past.
Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn
This is an image the Vikings hope to see for the rest of the 2018 season: Dalvin Cook running away from defenders, and towards the goal line. (USA Today Sports Images)

EAGAN, Minn. - The Minnesota Vikings went into the 2017 NFL draft without a first round draft choice after trading that pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Sam Bradford, right before the start of the 2016 season.

When the Vikings lost Teddy Bridgewater to a career-threatening knee injury at practice, they found themselves without a quarterback and the season looming just days away. Without much in the way of options the Vikings sent a first round pick in 2017 and a 4th round pick in 2018 to the Eagles for Bradford, an expensive and oft-injured player the Eagles were only too happy to unload after drafting rookie QB Carson Wentz that April.

Under head coach Mike Zimmer the Vikings defense had made significant strides and with the immobile Bradford at quarterback, the Vikings thought it best to add a running back who could take pressure off the quarterback and the team’s emerging corps of receivers.

Credit: Jeff Hanisch
Dalvin Cook will be key to the stretch run if he can manage to stay healthy, with a handful of games remaining against division foes. (USA Today Sports Images)

Lucky for the Vikings the 2017 draft featured a highly regarded class of backs. Even better? Only two of those backs were off the board when the Vikings finally got their turn at the 9th pick of the 2nd round, the 41st pick overall.

READ: More McNiff's Riffs

Already gone were Leonard Fournette, a power back out of LSU who went to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the 4th overall selection in the first round, and Christian McCaffrey of Stanford, who went with the 8th pick to the Carolina Panthers.

The Vikings had to be both thanking their lucky stars and holding their collective breath as eight players were selected during day two's second round before they could finally make their first pick in the draft.

Now, who to take?

Still on the board was Joe Mixon, a highly regarded player out of Oklahoma who was dealing with an ugly off-field incident. Mixon was regarded as something of a risk, so for the Vikings to take him they would have to be sold on his talent. They were not.

LISTEN: McNiff's Huddle podcast: A conversation with Justice Alan Page

Mixon went at pick 38 to the Cincinnati Bengals where his contribution has been limited by injuries. Vikings fans haven’t lost a minute of sleep over taking a pass on him.

Instead, the Vikings selected running back Dalvin Cook out of Florida State. While Cook had issues with ball security, he was highly regarded for his pass catching skills and his ability to deliver big plays off the run. The problem? By taking Cook the Vikings passed on two other backs whose respective teams are pretty glad that they did.

Credit: Brad Rempel
Mr. Cook won't be the only one happy if he manages to finish the rest of the season on the field, and NOT in the training room. (USA Today Sports Images)

Alvin Kamara of Tennessee stayed on the board until the 67th pick in the 3rd round, where he was taken by the New Orleans Saints. Nineteen picks later Kareem Hunt of Toledo was taken with the 86th pick by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Splitting time in the Saints backfield with veteran Mark Ingram Jr., all Kamara did was make the NFC Pro Bowl team, earn second-team All-Pro Honors and was named the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Not to be outdone, Hunt led the NFL in rushing, was named to the Pro Bowl and earned the Pro Football Writers Rookie of the year honors.

You can rightfully point out that it wasn’t a fair competition. After all, the Vikings lost Cook to a season-ending knee injury in a week-4 loss to Detroit. At the time he went down Cook was leading the Vikings in rushing, averaging almost 5-yards a carry, while adding 90-yards on 11-catches.

Problem is, after recovering from the torn ACL Cook has been limited for most of the 2018 season by a hamstring injury while Kamara and Hunt have picked-up right where they left off. Not surprisingly, their teams (New Orleans, Kansas City) have just three collective losses between them and are leading their respective divisions.

Vikings fans looking for hope where Cook is concerned need look no further than their own team history. Back in 1993 the Vikings selected running back Robert Smith of THE Ohio State University with the 21st pick of the first round. Smith was hampered by a series of injuries in his first few seasons before he finally breaking through in 1997. Smith rushed for 1,266 yards that year, and topped it with his finest season in 2000 when he lead the NFC in rushing with 1,521 yards... only to retire at the season’s end.

Like Dalvin Cook, Robert Smith came to the Vikings with a huge upside, AND a reputation for being injury-prone. (Getty Images)

My point here, is that sometimes it takes a while for a player to arrive. Finally healthy (cross your fingers) Cook has the ability to give the Vikings the same game-breaking ability that Kamara and Hunt have given their respective teams.

“I’m hyped, man. I’m hyped, I’m hyped, I’m hyped," Cook emphasized (we think he's hyped). "Around this time last year I was on the couch watching my team compete and wishing I was out here. Now I’m out here and I’ve got to take full advantage of it. I’m hyped and ready to go.”

Viking fans can only hope that he is. Sunday night in Chicago would seem to be an ideal time for the real Dalvin Cook to finally arrive.

Before You Leave, Check This Out