AUGUST 10: Outkick’s Armando Salguero notes that Cook and the Jets remain at an impasse financially. The gap between the parties could be as much as $3MM per year, he adds, which would explain the lack of traction on a deal sending him to New York. If Cook holds firm on his asking price, it will be interesting to monitor how willing the Jets will be to match it as time goes by, and if other suitors are prepared to step in if they are not.
AUGUST 9: Throughout the more recent stages of his free agent process, the Jets have been the team most closely connected to Dalvin Cook. A deal sending the veteran back to New York is still possible, but no other veterans at the position are on the team’s radar at the moment. 
[RELATED: Patriots Leaning Toward Elliott, Away From Cook]
Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline notes that the Jets still “want to sign” the four-time Pro Bowler. Teams around the AFC East – with the exception of the Bills – have been linked to Cook, who has understandably remained patient while weighing his options. His only visit to date has been with the Jets, though, and he deemed the odds of his high-profile summit producing a deal as being “pretty high.”
The degree to which Cook touted his sit-down with the Jets publicly did not sit well with the team, although interest from other potential suitors has been relatively lackluster. The Miami native is seen by the Dolphins as a luxury add, despite the fact he would likely have an easier path to a starter’s role with his hometown team than with the Patriots or Jets, provided Breece Hall is indeed available in time for Week 1.
Cook is believed to be seeking guaranteed money over two years, which could complicate a Jets deal aimed at making him a high-end insurance policy in case Hall is activated later than expected or struggles to return to his pre-ACL tear form. Notably, however, Pauline adds that New York is not particularly interested in adding a veteran (other than Cook) to its backfield given the options already in place.
Aside from Hall, the Jets also have Michael Carter and former UDFA Zonovan Knight on the RB depth chart. The latter has impressed in training camp, per Pauline, after totaling 400 scrimmage yards on 98 touches last season. Fifth-round rookie Israel Abanikanda has also drawn praise, meaning the Jets can afford to remain patient with respect to negotiations with Cook. Interest still exists for a deal to be worked out on this front, however, and with more than $16MM in cap space, the Jets have the spending power to make a signficant commitment if one is required.
Would be quite the addition to go with all the others….,
The Jets don’t seem to have much of an offensive line, thus Rodgers is going to need to dump the ball off quickly on 3 out of 4 passing downs. The Jets should pony up the cash to ensure they can get to 9 wins as their schedule is brutal.
Agreed. Good running backs will help alleviate pressure on Rodgers, but offensive line is certainly a concern. Cook would offer a little more than the current backs, but it doesn’t seem that many others should offer much more than what the Jets have right now than their young players in the long run.
Perhaps Hunt would be a little more, but that’s up for debate. No matter who is brought in (barring a trade, and even then only Jacobs doesn’t have injury concerns) he’ll be a platoon back in the Jets’ current setup. You’d figure that the lack of picks from the Rodgers trade would preclude that, though, especially with young backs on the roster.
Oh my God enough with this! Have some damn pride and recognize when you’re being used! He’s just not that into you!
So you want a GM who is going to tell fans that he has no interest in kicking the tires or doing due diligence on players because he’s worried he might be used?
No, he did the right thing up to a point but there has to be a point where you look at the situation and say alright this isn’t happening. It’s completely within Cook’s right to hold out, more power to him, but at some point you have to be realistic and realize that the contract you want isn’t out there. If I’m JD and it’s been out there for over a month that we’re the highest bidder then I’m drawing a line in the sand and saying accept by ???? or the offer is pulled
Deals get worked out or they don’t…that’s the nature of the league. A player can always change agents (or call Lamar’s mom) if he’s not happy with the progress being made. I think issuing ultimatums is a terrible idea for any GM as it sends an unfavorable message to all the other free agents or soon to be free agents on the market.
I don’t think telling one free agent running back that they won’t allow him to string them along for 2 months sends an unfavorable message at all. If anything it would seem that allowing this to happen in the first place sends more of an unfavorable message
I think you may be confusing multi-million dollar deals with getting a prom date.
Fascinating. Please, tell me more of what you think?
Cook better hurry because training camps already started. He needs to learn AR’s offense!
Dalvin Cook does not have to hurry. He’s a premier running back still in his prime. More starting star backs will be injured in pre-season and the first three games of the season. Cook is the only plug and play star out there. He’ll get his money for two years by mid-season. Half a season less of tread on his tires will help him extend his career another season.
The Jets would do well to make the deal and sign Cook. With Cook, the AR trade makes more sense. The Jets will be stacked for two years on offense, it can be fireworks.
Well said Mr. Kinnear, couldn’t agree more.
How’d that work out for Leveon Bell?
Bell sat out a year. Cook would not have sat out a year.
Guess we’ll never know now, will we?