The Team That Should Sign Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook should return to purple attire for his next NFL team, just a slightly different hue than the Minnesota Vikings.
The Team That Should Sign Dalvin Cook
The New York Jets and Cook agreed to part ways on Tuesday, about five months after inking a summer deal — back when the Jets were true-blue Super Bowl contenders. But soon after the regular season kicked off, Cook wasn’t quite the same playmaker from 2020 or 2021, and New York quickly granted a large carry load to Breece Hall, not Cook.
Now, if he clears waivers, Cook can sign anywhere in the NFL and will likely latch onto a playoff team. ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted on Wednesday morning, “Soon-to-be former Jets’ RB Dalvin Cook officially will be placed on waivers today, meaning he could be claimed at 4 pm ET Thursday or, if he is not, sign with another team anytime after.”
And assuming Cook hits the open market, the Baltimore Ravens should flock to the wire for his services. Behind the San Francisco 49ers, the Ravens are favored to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February, and Baltimore should add Cook for RB depth.
Why? Well, the Ravens have endured oodles of injury at running back. They lost J.K. Dobbins and Keaton Mitchell this year to season-ending injuries, so in the postseason, the more RB depth, the better.
This is Baltimore’s current RB corps:
- Gus Edwards
- Justice Hill
- Melvin Gordon
Meanwhile, quarterback Lamar Jackson assuredly is not a running back, but his statsheet production often fills the void of a halfback because he’s that damn good. Adding Cook would merely hedge the bet against more injuries and insert a homerun hitter into the lineup.
Cook departed the Vikings as the franchise’s third-leading rusher in franchise history (5,993 yards) behind Adrian Peterson (11,747) and Robert Smith (6,818). His 47 rushing touchdowns rank fourth behind Peterson (97), Chuck Foreman (52), and Bill Brown (52). And his rushing yards per game (82.1) are second, only trailing Peterson (95.5).
The Vikings released Cook last June because he was in line for a $14 million cap hit in 2023 — too much for a running back and for one that proved in New York that his Pro Bowl days were over.
Yet, in Baltimore, Cook wouldn’t have to serve as a bellcow RB1. Edwards, Hill, and Gordon are available for touches. Cook could be the cake-topper.
“Honestly, I feel like if you put my tape on, I proved myself in this league. I don’t go beg for carries. I feel like I was brought here for a reason,” Cook told ESPN in December.
The Ravens also employ former Vikings wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. Baltimore ranks tops in the NFL per rushing DVOA.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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