The Minnesota Vikings have a couple of starting-caliber running backs set to compete for the starting job this summer. Though, Latavius Murray expects rookie Dalvin Cook, whom the team selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, to be the man taking a back seat come Week 1.
“You’re looking at it from his aspect, ‘Look this older vet is coming off this injury, it’s time for him to step aside. I want this, and I should be the guy.'”
“I’m looking at it from my perspective, like, look, this is my time, this is my opportunity,” he said in an appearance on Good Morning Football, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com. “This is what I want. When it comes Game 1, I need to be back there lining up.”
When Murray signed on with Minnesota this past March (three-year deal that includes $8.55 million guaranteed), he likely thought the starting job was already his. Then Minnesota took Cook in the draft, instantly creating an opportunity for some legitimate competition at this position.
And at this point, given the fact that Murray has been sidelined with an ankle injury (expected to be on track for training camp), all things being equal Cook has the upper hand having taken reps in a new offense. Throw in the fact that Cook is very talented and already runs with the patience and skill of a tenured veteran and it’s very much up in the air who will start come Week 1 if both players are healthy.
Murray said he was not surprised by Minnesota’s decision to draft Cook, saying, ” It motivates me regardless, because they’re always going to bring in somebody to take over for your position.”
Not surprisingly, Murray expects to be the guy getting the ball in Week 1. But nobody should be surprised if that’s not the case. Cook will give him all the competition he can handle. In either case, it’s likely both running backs will see plenty of work this upcoming season.