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How deep is too deep for the New Orleans Saints to go at running back? Despite having previously signed Jamaal Williams to a lucrative free agent contract and picked Kendre Miller early in the third round of the 2023 draft, at least one outlet is suggesting the Saints make a move for Dalvin Cook.
The Minnesota Vikings are determined to part ways with their four-time Pro Bowl running back, coming off the heels of his lowest rate of yards gained per carry (4.4, half a yard better than Alvin Kamara’s pace last year) with a salary cap hit north of $14.1 million. Unless the Vikings take on much of Cook’s salary, any team trading for him will take on base salary payments of $10.4 million in 2023, $11.9 million in 2024, and $13.9 million in 2025. That’s going to be challenging even for a creative front office like New Orleans.
One national analyst likes the Saints as a dark-horse team who can surprise the NFL world and overcome those hurdles. Here’s the reasoning from SB Nation’s James Dator:
The salary cap is a fake construct to the Saints. An annoying road block they just navigate around each year. Right now New Orleans already have Alvin Kamara, but with his status up in the air pending a legal trial, there is a major chance he could get suspended to start the year.
Not only is this a concern, but Kamara’s production has dropped off significantly in the last two years. If this team wants to try and contend in the NFC South (and all signs point to yes), then adding a weapon like Cook could really help the team in 2023.
Normally I wouldn’t give this any chance, but considering how the Saints manage the cap it’s a possibility.
Those are all valid points, but it’s still a lot of money to pay for another running back when the Saints have already invested heavily in the position. They won’t know if Kamara will be suspended or not until his legal process wraps up, and it’s not even going to take the next step until his next court date on July 31. Odds are the Saints won’t know how long he’ll be suspended for until they’ve played a couple of preseason games.
And even then, trading for Cook just to tide you over for maybe six to eight weeks while Kamara is unavailable can’t justify the cost to acquire him (not just in salary cap resources, but in the trade package going back to Minnesota). The Saints would be better served letting Williams and Miller get an extended audition in Kamara’s place, giving them an idea of what the offense may look like if they move on from him in 2024 when his own cap hit soars past $18.8 million.
On the other hand, Cook would be a lot of fun in New Orleans, and we’re always in favor of that. If the Saints can find a way to cook the books and get him from Minnesota at a discount, why not explore it?