The latest offer the Miami Dolphins put on the table for Dalvin Cook is not one the current free agent running back will accept, likely due to not reaching his financial demands, despite his interest in coming back to play for his home state Florida.
With the whole running back market looking for money, even with the big names currently, Cook will have to wait till the right deal comes. He also “doesn’t see an urgency to sign with a team right now” and has fielded interest from nearly “the entire AFC East division,” according to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington.
The former Minnesota superstar and four-time Pro Bowler was released from the team last month, but it isn’t like a player like him wouldn’t boost a team’s offense or is someone that lacks production. Actually, there are plenty of suitors who need an upgrade at the running back position, but Cook is also reportedly looking for “additional leverage in his contract negotiations.”
This would involve him waiting till after July 17 to sign, as this is the deadline for teams to sign long-term deals with their franchise-tagged players. Key players include running backs Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys, Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders, and Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants. Whether either or all of them are re-signed, traded, or even decide to sit out will help reset the running back market that has tanked recently and it could lead to those teams having openings.
Other backs on the market that are notable names, include Ezekiel Elliott, Kareem Hunt, Leonard Fournette and James Robinson. There hasn’t been any movement for this group since the main portion of free agency back in March, where Miles Sanders, David Montgomery and Jamaal Williams were the biggest names who signed to new teams. Cook, production-wise, is a tier above all the names listed.
Teams believe Cook has the Dolphins atop his wish list, as recently the former Vikings running back called the Dolphins’ outside-zone running scheme a “perfect fit” for his skill set. He also hinted that he wouldn’t mind going to the Jets, sharing reports of New York “doing their homework” on a potential move in the near future to pair him with former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who they acquired via trade this offseason.
Breece Hall is coming back from an ACL injury but is projected to come back for the first week of the new season. But adding another talented back to a group wouldn’t hurt to give a revamped Jets offense even more weapons, despite having a running back group with Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, and rookie Israel Abanikanda.
For Miami, Cook would fit right into a running group that is missing a true star. Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. are back on the team, but both have had trouble staying healthy and even with the addition of De’Von Achane in the draft, the Dolphins could use another veteran rusher.
Buffalo adding James Cook‘s brother also makes sense, as they let their starter last year, Devin Singletary walk to sign with the Houston Texans in free agency. Projected to be the lead back next to free agent signing Damian Harris, the Bills runner Cook has already hinted he’d “embrace the opportunity” to play with his older brother.
But for all three AFC East teams, is it worth paying a running back big-time money considering the guys they already have? It is clear Cook wants to play for a contender, but won’t settle for a lowball offer and is willing to wait for the right deal to come in for his services. So far, the Jets, Bills and Dolphins have also shown patience, not budging or rushing in offering Cook the money he is seeking.
The 27-year-old still has enough gas in the tank, as Cook has four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons on the ground, so the move to cut him was mostly financial and age-related. The Vikings, who drafted him in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, replaced him by re-signing Alexander Mattison, his backup last year. Minnesota tried to ship him off prior to his release, but there were no teams interested in him under the extension he signed with the Vikings back in 2020.
However, there is a new favorite to sign Cook, and it’s another AFC East team, the New England Patriots.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Pats are “at least intrigued” by the possibility of adding Cook after cutting free agent running back Robinson last month to pair with Rhamondre Stevenson. The offense will need to improve for 2023, as head coach Bill Belichick reunited with offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien earlier this offseason. They don’t want a repeat their performance last season.
With an “urgency to improve that offense,” the Pats were in the running for signing former big-name free agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins. But with the star pass catcher going to Tennessee with the Titans, reported July 16, it changed today’s odds of where Cook will end up. His landing destinations shifted from Miami to New England for the favorite, as they have the cap space to do so and could be willing to make a splash to make an addition like Cook.
Adam Schefter on ESPN’s Get Up Today on July 17, said this about the Pats potentially making a move for the star running back.
While this doesn’t mean a move will be made for him any time soon, the Pats or Dolphins or another team swooping in late to add Cook would make any offense more dynamic, even if it is expensive.
