JULY 28: Cook appeared on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football on Friday, and discussed his upcoming Jets visit. He said the odds of a deal being worked out with New York in the near future are “pretty high,” providing an additional sign of where this situation appears to be headed (video link). Cook would give the Jets high-end insurance against Hall not being available to start the season (or at least not immediately returning to his pre-injury form), along with another contributor to their all-in approach.
Cook did add, however, that a deal with his hometown Dolphins remains a consideration and that he is still “weighing [his] options.” Only his Jets visit is currently on the books, and it would certainly come as little surprise at this point if it yielded an agreement. Others could follow, though, meaning this three-way AFC East competition remains ongoing.
JULY 27: Aaron Rodgers‘ long-rumored restructure coming to pass will lead to an immediate meeting with the highest-profile free agent remaining. Dalvin Cook intends to visit the Jets, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
The six-year veteran running back will visit with the team this weekend, per Pelissero. Per ESPN’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter), the meeting with take place Sunday. The AFC East has seen by far the most Cook connections, with the Dolphins and Patriots in this mix as well. But the Jets have loomed for a while. Rodgers’ restructure doubled as a pay cut, and the Jets will see if they can put the funds freed up from this agreement and the Quinnen Williams extension to immediate use. Cook’s visit adds to the momentum the Jets had established here.
Cook has said he wants to land with a contending team that carries a clear backfield need. The Jets have starter Breece Hall returning from an October ACL tear. While the 2022 second-round pick has long been expected to be back by Week 1, he began training camp on the team’s active/PUP list. The door remains open for Hall to be ready to go to start the regular season, but the Jets have not been shy about pursuing ex-Rodgers teammates or big names on offense this offseason.
In addition to the Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Mecole Hardman and Billy Turner additions, the Jets looked like the lead candidate for Odell Beckham Jr. this spring. Beckham scheduled a Jets visit but did not end up taking it, with the Ravens submitting a big offer that redirected the talented wide receiver to Baltimore. The Dolphins were long viewed as the lead Cook suitor, and Cook has discussed a deal with his hometown team. Miami’s first offer clearly did not impress Cook, who will give the Jets an opportunity to make a pitch soon.
While a Dolphins meeting could commence, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com adds the Patriots are the other Cook suitor attempting to set up a visit (Twitter link). They are in talks with Cook about bringing him to Foxborough for a meeting. The Pats already worked out Leonard Fournette and Darrell Henderson. Cook would be a splashier (and costlier) addition. New England hosted the other big-ticket summer free agent — DeAndre Hopkins — but did not come too close to matching Tennessee’s offer.
Despite the Patriots’ interest, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes the purveying view around the league is the Jets will win this race and could wrap it up by week’s end. The team not wanting to rush Hall back represents the key reason for the Cook pursuit.
News of Cook setting up visits comes at an interesting time for the running back position. In addition to the Vikings bailing on Cook’s $12.6MM-per-year contract, the market led to multiple pay cuts, a free agency period that did not produce one $7MM-AAV accord and the franchise tag deadline passing with all three tagged backs attached to the $10.1MM number. Running backs have since discussed their status as a coalition, gathering for a recent Zoom call, as their value has taken more hits this offseason. Cook has not been expected to come too close to his Vikings AAV, and it will be interesting to see what terms it will take for him to sign.
The Jets and Rodgers coming to an agreement provided long-awaited clarity for the team, and its $15.98MM in available funds sits 11th. Gang Green has also been connected to a Corey Davis pay-cut request. Carl Lawson accepted a pay reduction, and the veteran defensive end stands as a more valuable piece for the sudden AFC contender. Davis is tied to an $11.18MM cap hit this year, and the Jets signed three wideouts in free agency. The seventh-year vet accepting a trim would free up more space, though the RB market crashing makes it unlikely Cook will be able to command an especially lucrative deal.
New England sits 12th in cap space, holding just more than $12.5MM. The Pats let Damien Harris leave for a low-level Bills contract but have seen Rhamondre Stevenson become one of the NFL’s best young backs. Two years remain on Stevenson’s rookie contract. The Pats have continued to explore an addition to their backfield, with second-year man Pierre Strong sitting as their top backup.
Cook would impact Stevenson’s role but give the Pats a clear RB2 upgrade. The Dolphins lack a starter on the level of Stevenson or Hall, though Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson have played for Mike McDaniel with two teams. It would seem Cook will attempt to use this Jets and Pats interest to push the Dolphins, who have been in on the accomplished vet since March and may or may not have explored a Saquon Barkley trade, to increase their offer.
Opting to save money by going with longtime Cook sidekick Alexander Mattison (at two years and $7MM), the Vikings joined the Cowboys in shedding a top-five RB contract this year. Cook, however, delivered better returns on his second contract compared to Ezekiel Elliott. Cook is the only back who has surpassed 1,100 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons. Going into his age-28 slate, the Florida State alum remains an intriguing piece. He may finish the summer having a significant say in a loaded AFC East.
