Minnesota will have an open competition during training camp for the team's starting running back position among Latavius Murray, Cook and Jerick McKinnon. "Well, yeah," head coach Mike Zimmer told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "It'll always be an open competition."
Cook, Minnesota's second-round 2017 draft pick, was a feared and incredibly productive runner in college, totaling 4,464 yards (6.5 YPC) and 46 touchdowns in 38 career games. He'll likely emerge as the starter, but it's possible that he could come off the bench and be eased into action at the start of the season. Cook will need to show he can block in pass protection and limit turnovers (13 fumbles in three years at Florida State) to win an every-down role.