Dalvin Cook's Holdout Will Definitely Hurt Seahawks in Negotiations With RB Chris Carson

Dalvin Cook has made it clear that he will not be signing a deal until he gets the money he deserves from the Minnesota Vikings. That has become a common reality for NFL running backs who are routinely underpaid for their production due to short lifespans and injury concerns.

Whatever happens to Cook will prove crucial to numerous other backs set to hit the market in the coming years, with Seattle Seahawks' Chris Carson being one of them.

If we take a look at Cook and Carson comparatively, there's not much difference there. With just a one-year age gap and a history of injuries, both performed at a high rate last season with 1,000-yard campaigns. The separating factor for Carson is that he's done that two years in a row. Not only that, but Carson has nearly 500 more rushing yards to his name and the same amount of total touchdowns as Cook.

So what does that mean? If Cook does indeed get the $13 million a year he's requesting, there's no reality where Carson accepts any less from Seattle, which will create an issue with the team's cap.

But the addition of Carlos Hyde and the presence of other backs means they may not have to.

Despite being an older back, Hyde is coming off a 1,000-yard season of his own, whereas Rashaad Penny has shown signs of becoming a prominent back in the NFL. The best part? Both of these players could be kept for a far lower cost than Carson.

Cook and Carson sit at a relatively even playing field, and whatever happens to the former will surely dictate the outcome of the latter. Seattle's hoping Cook settles for a discount, otherwise they may have to let Carson go.