There’s no question cornerback Chris Cook fell out of favor last season under former Vikings coach Leslie Frazier.

Cook irked Frazier when he was ejected from a game against Chicago for making contact with an official. He was beaten in coverage far too often. And there were questions about some of his injuries.

But Frazier is gone. Now, it will be seen if his replacement, Mike Zimmer, is interested in re-signing Cook as a free agent.

“If they want me to come back, I would love to come back,” Cook said Thursday in a phone interview. “But ultimately it’s not my decision. So I’m just waiting and working out. … I would be more than happy to come back. I really enjoyed the guys I played with.”

Cook said Zimmer taking over could be beneficial to him. Zimmer was an NFL defensive coordinator the previous 14 seasons after having broken into the league as a defensive backs coach.

“From what I’ve heard, he’s probably one of the best DB coaches in the game right now,” Cook said. “So that’s a positive for me if I get the opportunity to work with him.”

One of Zimmer’s specialties has been rehabilitating troubled players. Cook has had his share of difficulties since being a second-round draft pick by the Vikings in 2010. He was arrested twice in 2011, on suspicion of brandishing a gun in a fight and for suspicion of domestic battery. He was acquitted in both incidents.

But Cook, 27, has talent. Zimmer might believe he can use that ability to help a team that ranked last in the NFL in 2013 in pass defense.

Cook is one of the Vikings’ 16 unrestricted free agents. The Vikings can negotiate exclusively with those free agents from March 8-11 before those players can start talking with all teams.

The Vikings are expected to have about $30 million to spend. They soon must decide which players they will target to bring back before it will be known how much they have to use on outside free agents.

Cook said he has not talked with Zimmer since Zimmer was named coach Jan. 15. He also said he hasn’t talked to general manager Rick Spielman or any other team official since departing Minnesota after last season.

Cook has spent the winter in Miami. He’s been working with Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl tackle Branden Albert, a former University of Virginia teammate, under the guidance of trainer Manny Sumner.

“I need to get ready for next season,” Cook said. “And I’ll be ready.”

Cook has started 29 games in his NFL career and doesn’t have an interception. The Vikings hoped he would take a big step in 2013, but it didn’t happen during a season in which he missed four games because of injury.

“Just play better, man,” Cook said of what he needs to do. “That’s the only thing I want to do: just play better.”

Follow Chris Tomasson at twitter.com/christomasson.