Dalvin Cook

Latest On Dalvin Cook, Dolphins

July 8th, 2023 at 9:32am CST by Ben Levine

Despite a crowded running backs room, the Dolphins have been consistently linked to free agent Dalvin Cook. While adding a player of Cook’s caliber would surely take snaps away from other worthy players, it sounds like the team’s current RB corps would welcome an All-Pro teammate.

“We’ve got some dawgs here, so having Dalvin Cook in the mix, that competition breeds excellence, man,” fullback Alec Ingold said during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). “You want as much good quality backs as you can possibly have, especially in our offense when guys can really make something happen with it. You can get the ball, you can touch it a million different ways. You’ve got out of the backfield, you’ve got in the backfield, outside zone, inside zone. We’re gonna run some routes.

“More backs! Give me all the backs! Can we have 15 running backs in the training camp room? I would love it.”

The Dolphins are currently slated to return much of the same running back corps in 2023. This group includes Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Salvon Ahmed, and Myles Gaskin. The team also used a third-round pick on Texas A&M’s Devon Achane.

While that grouping looks okay on paper, that core also finished 25th in rushing yards last season. With the Dolphins looking to make a playoff push, you couldn’t blame the organization for eyeing an upgrade at the position. Mostert ended up pacing the position with 891 yards; Cook has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons.

Miami has loomed as the Cook favorite for months. The Dolphins discussed a Cook trade with the Vikings but ultimately stood down and waited for a release, and they’ve since made the Miami native an offer. PFR readers widely expect the Florida State alum to ultimately sign with his hometown team.

Latest On Jets, Dalvin Cook; Aaron Rodgers, Quinnen Williams Talks Impacting Pursuit?

July 6th, 2023 at 3:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

The waiting game between Dalvin Cook and his lot of suitors continues. Nearly a month has passed since the Vikings cut Cook, and a few known interested parties have emerged. Thus far, no team has blown the four-time Pro Bowler away with an offer.

A Miami native, Cook has said the Dolphins are a “perfect fit,” and the team has submitted a contract proposal to the six-year veteran. No early deal commencing has opened the door to Dolphin rivals, with the Jets and Patriots now known to have Cook on their respective radars. Indeed, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler said during a recent Get Up! appearance that the Jets have done their homework on the free agent back and are in the mix here (video link).

For the time being, the Jets can probably be classified as a team monitoring this market. They could become a true suitor, per the New York Post’s Brian Costello, but only if Cook reduces his asking price. Cook is said to be seeking a number close to his $10MM-plus Vikings salary. As of now, the Jets sit fifth in cap space with $23.2MM. Some moving parts exist regarding that number, however.

New York has had an Aaron Rodgers restructure on its radar since acquiring the future Hall of Fame quarterback in April. The Packers and Rodgers reached a restructure agreement on the way out, a move that caught the Jets by surprise. As a result, Rodgers is due a whopping $107.5MM in base salary next year. His cap number aligns with that eye-popping figure. With no player ever entering a season on even a $50MM cap hit, it is safe to say some cap mechanics will take place fairly soon.

The Jets will look to spread out Rodgers’ hit, but since the current arrangement calls for that $107MM number in 2024, such a transaction would raise the 2023 figure from its present $1.2MM place. The Buccaneers used void years to smooth out their cap during Tom Brady‘s tenure, and while they are eating $35MM-plus in dead money as a result of the legendary passer not re-signing with the team, Tampa Bay obviously picked up its second Super Bowl title after the monumental free agent signing. However, Fowler adds a Jets-Rodgers restructure could be contingent on the 39-year-old QB committing to play at least two seasons with the team.

Rodgers has gone year to year for a bit now, delaying his latest return announcement until after free agency began this year, and stopped short of saying he would play beyond 2023 at his introductory Jets presser. The 19th-year veteran did break a recent trend by attending OTAs and did say he viewed this trade as a multiyear commitment. During trade talks with the Packers, the Jets attempted to squeeze in a contract clause that would have required Green Bay to send a 2025 second-round choice over in the event Rodgers did not play in 2024. That term was left on the cutting-room floor. The trade only includes one 2024 component, the conditional first-round pick that would transfer from New York to Green Bay if Rodgers plays 65% of Gang Green’s 2023 offensive snaps.

While the Rodgers restructure will presumably increase his 2023 cap hit, the Jets can reduce Williams’ fifth-year option number ($9.59MM) with an extension agreement. The Bills did this by extending Ed Oliver, creating room for the Leonard Floyd signing. Douglas and Robert Saleh expressed confidence in a Williams re-up earlier this offseason, but Fowler did not indicate much progress has been made as of late. The Jets are also prepared to give Corey Davis an ultimatum. With Davis’ role set to be reduced, he is not long for the $11.17MM cap number to which he is currently tied. This transaction would also free up cap space.

Breece Hall is finishing up his rehab from an October ACL tear; the Jets expect their promising second-year back to return by Week 1. Cook has said he wants to sign with a contender with a clear running back need. Although the Jets are committing to chase a Super Bowl while Rodgers is in town, Cook could certainly cut into Hall’s development. Then again, adding high-profile insurance for a young player coming off a major knee injury would not be the worst idea for a team in the Jets’ situation. And, with the Dolphins and Patriots interested, the Jets adding Cook would mean a protection measure against one of their rivals improving its backfield.

Jets, Patriots Interested In Dalvin Cook

July 5th, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dalvin Cook market includes one well-known suitor, but a host of other teams are believed to be monitoring this situation. The Dolphins appear to have competition from two of their division rivals.

The Jets and Patriots have shown interest in the Pro Bowl running back. New England is intrigued by adding Cook to a Rhamondre Stevenson-fronted backfield, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com said recently (via MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian). While the Jets are expecting Breece Hall to return by Week 1, Fowler adds they are interested in the ex-Viking as well.

This is not the first time the Patriots have come up in connection with Cook. A report last week threw New England into the mix as a possible destination for the six-year Minnesota starter. The Dolphins have long been connected to Cook and have spoken with the Miami native. Cook has called the Dolphins a perfect fit for his skillset, and the team is believed to have made an offer.

Rumblings of a Cook-Patriots partnership comes not long after the AFC East club hosted DeAndre Hopkins on a free agency visit. The Pats made Hopkins an offer and, after a DeVante Parker extension that does not appear especially lucrative, the team remains in play to add the former All-Pro wide receiver. While these are separate markets, the two high-profile free agents have planned to discuss the possibility of ending up on the same team.

The Pats are interested in adding a back to pair with Stevenson, per Fowler. The team let its previous Stevenson complement, Damien Harris, walk for barely the league minimum. Harris signed a one-year, $1.77MM Bills deal that came with just $1MM guaranteed. Cook will cost more than that, though a deal that pays him close to the $10.4MM he was due with the Vikings should not be expected. As the Pats’ offense struggled last season, Stevenson broke through for 1,461 scrimmage yards. The team hired Bill O’Brien to clean up a mess this offseason, and Fowler adds Bill Belichick senses the urgency to improve on offense.

Stephenson and Cook would qualify as a top-shelf 1-2 punch, but Hall would make for a high-end backfield tandem partner as well. Cook called the Dolphins a perfect fit but brought up the Jets as a team he has seen linked to him as well. New York has made a more concerted effort to improve on offense, trading for Aaron Rodgers and adding a host of his ex-Packer teammates. Mecole Hardman also joined the Jets, who now have a clear window to load up their roster around Rodgers. Hall may be a candidate for the active/PUP list in training camp, but nothing has emerged to indicate the 2022 second-round pick will not be ready for the regular season.

The Jets carry third-year back Michael Carter, who as of now looks to be the favorite to back up Hall this season, and gave UDFA Zonovan Knight some work last year. The team re-signed and then waived Ty Johnson, however. The Patriots made a similar move in their backfield, signing ex-Jet James Robinson before cutting him before their offseason program ended. Injury concerns led to the once-productive Jaguar’s Foxborough exit. Behind Stevenson, the Pats roster 2022 draftees Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris. Those two combined for just 28 carries as rookies.

Cook, who is going into his age-28 season, has said he would like to sign with a contending team that has a steady role available. The Dolphins may check both boxes, as Cook could seemingly overtake the Raheem Mostert–Jeff Wilson duo for touches. Stevenson and Hall would not be as easy to leapfrog. The Patriots have recently created cap space as well, extending Parker and linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley. The Jets are likely to lose some 2023 cap space, with Rodgers’ contract needing a second offseason restructure. Such a move would raise his 2023 cap number from its current $1.2MM place.

Although the Dolphins are a ways down the road with Cook, he has clearly not been enamored by his hometown team’s initial proposal. As the running back market might clear up via resolutions for franchise tag recipients Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard at the July 17 extension deadline, Cook may be keen on waiting longer before committing.

RB Notes: Hines, Rodriguez, Cook

July 2nd, 2023 at 12:50pm CST by Rory Parks

Here are a few RB-related items from around the league:

The Bills have invested heavily at the running back position in recent years, and at present, the club has 2022 second-round pick James Cook and 2023 free agent signee Damien Harris at the top of its depth chart, with newcomer Latavius Murray also in the mix. As quarterback Josh Allen is a significant part of Buffalo’s ground attack, and since the Bills also offer a bevy of quality receiving options, Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News wonders how 2022 trade acquisition Nyheim Hines fits into the equation. As a member of the Colts, Hines proved that he can be a dynamic weapon, but he saw just 66 offensive snaps in nine games with the Bills last year. While O’Halloran expects Hines to continue making an impact as a return specialist, he finds it difficult to envision anything more than a gadget role for the NC State product on offense. On the other hand, RB coach Kelly Skipper suggested that Hines’ limited usage in 2022 was largely due to the complexity of the Bills’ playbook, and that Hines will see meaningful action both as a receiver and rusher this season.
In a feature on Commanders rookie running back Chris Rodriguez Jr., which will be of particular interest to fans of the team and which details the devastating loss of Rodriguez’s mother in January, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post notes that the Commanders had a third-round grade on the Kentucky product. Washington was able to land Rodriguez in the sixth round, and he is currently penciled in as the third RB on the depth chart, behind Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson. As a sixth-rounder, though, he is not guaranteed a spot on the roster, especially if the team’s interest in Kareem Hunt should evolve into something more. As new OC Eric Bieniemy noted, Rodriguez will need to impress on special teams, but if he can do so, he could be well-positioned for a productive tenure in the nation’s capital. Gibson is a free agent at season’s end, and while neither Robinson nor Rodriguez offer Gibson’s upside as a receiver, both players have the type of downhill, between-the-tackles power that the team values, and the duo could form a potent 1-2 punch down the line.
Free agent RB Dalvin Cook recently suggested that he declined a visit with an unnamed club, and according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, that club was not the Dolphins (Twitter link). As of the time of this writing, the ‘Fins are the only named team that has definite interest in Cook’s services, though the latest reporting suggested that about six teams are in the market and that Cook has received multiple offers. Jackson says that Cook — who has previously expressed enthusiasm for joining his hometown Dolphins — remains interested in playing his home games in South Beach.

Dolphins Make Offer To Dalvin Cook; Other Teams Remain On Radar

June 27th, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

After communicating with Dalvin Cook in the days since his Vikings release, this market’s long-rumored frontrunner has extended an offer. The Dolphins made their first offer to Cook, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports (on Twitter).

This is not the only offer Cook has received, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who said during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show the six-year veteran has received multiple proposals. Around a “half-dozen” teams are in this market, Pelissero adds (video link).

Cook, who has said he wants to land with a contending team that has a need at running back, is not believed to be mandating a deal be done before training camp. It would not surprise if Cook attempted to drag this process into August, as proven veterans are generally fine with avoiding the rigors of camp. An injury or a team viewing its backfield situation as insufficient during camp could change Cook’s market, but it seems significant interest exists now.

Miami has loomed as the Cook favorite for months; PFR readers widely expect the Florida State alum to sign there. The Dolphins discussed a Cook trade with the Vikings but ultimately stood down and waited for a release. Cook is a Miami native who has expressed interest in joining the Dolphins. That said, the longtime Viking should not be expected to take a discount to end up in South Florida, Pelissero adds. But it is not known who the other suitors are here.

Although Cook mentioned the Jets as a team he has been linked to, it is unclear if New York has reached out with contract terms. The Jets do not have a need for a starting running back, with Breece Hall expected to be back from ACL surgery by Week 1, though their depth does not match the Dolphins’. While Miami’s backfield is deeper than New York’s, Cook would be positioned as a starter for Mike McDaniel‘s team. The Dolphins re-signed ex-McDaniel 49ers charges Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson and used a third-round pick on Texas A&M speedster Devon Achane. It would seem the Dolphins could get by without Cook, given Mostert and Wilson’s system fits. But Mostert is 31 and has run into major injury trouble in recent years. Wilson also missed a chunk of time in 2021 due to a foot injury.

While Pelissero also mentioned the Broncos and Patriots as potential destinations, neither has been connected to possessing genuine interest. The Broncos emerged as an early Cook suitor, with a report indicating Denver had monitored Cook for a stretch ahead of his release. But a subsequent report pegged the Broncos as a team more likely to stay out of this market.

Like the Jets, the Broncos have a starting back (Javonte Williams) coming off an ACL tear. Williams has made progress, participating in OTAs, and is expected to be ready by Week 1. Denver also signed Samaje Perine, who is on track to play a regular role in Sean Payton‘s offense. The Patriots did not re-sign Damien Harris or add a veteran backup to replace him; as of now, Rhamondre Stevenson is ticketed for a three-down role in his third season.

The Dolphins are not planning to make Cook an offer close to the $10.4MM base salary he was to earn with the Vikings, but if there are legitimately a handful of teams in the market, the six-year Minnesota starter is unlikely to be forced to settle for the low-cost deals Mostert, Wilson and Harris signed in March. It will be interesting to see how close Cook comes to the $10.4MM mark, as even with interest forming, he is a running back going into his age-28 season — and in free agency when teams’ budgets are largely depleted.

NFC North Rumors: Campbell, Bears, Addison, Cook

June 25th, 2023 at 9:24pm CST by Ely Allen

When the Lions made Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell the first off-ball linebacker taken in the 2023 NFL Draft at No. 18 overall, the assumption by many was that he would be starting as a rookie next to Alex Anzalone and Malcolm Rodriguez in Detroit. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, those assumptions may have been a bit premature.

Lions linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard asserted earlier this month that, in Detroit, they intend to start the best players. Aside from Anzalone and Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes is the team’s top returning linebacker. He was third in the position room in tackles and started four games for the Lions last year.

Sheppard would very much like Campbell to slot in as a starting linebacker, but he made it clear that Barnes is not going to go away quietly. While Rodriguez deals with a leg injury, Barnes has worked with the first team alongside Anzalone this spring. If Campbell is going to break the starting lineup in Week 1, he’s going to have to show that he can outperform Barnes. Until then, he is going to have to continue in his rookie development.

Here are a few other rumors from the NFC North, starting with a position battle out in the Windy City:

The Bears finished last in the league last year in team sacks with 20 total for the season. Their prospects in 2023 may not be much brighter. According to Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Dominique Robinson and Trevis Gipson will be competing for a starting spot at defensive end this summer. Robinson had 1.5 sacks in the season opener last year but failed to register another for the rest of the season. Gipson racked up two sacks in Week 2 of 2022 but only had one the rest of the year. As of right now, one of those two will be starting next season. Chicago would either like to see improvement in their production this year or would like to sign another end to provide more competition.
Vikings first-round pick Jordan Addison‘s rookie development has been put on hold a bit as he deals with a minor injury, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said that he expects Addison to be fully recovered by training camp. In the meantime, Addison has reportedly been “asking great questions” and been “phenomenal in meetings” as he continues to learn.
While former Vikings running back Dalvin Cook‘s free agency has been the story as of late, he has experienced some recent legal victories, according to Mike Florio of NBC Sports. Back in November of 2021, Gracelyn Trimble sued Cook for injuries from alleged assault, battery, and false imprisonment. Cook filed a counterclaim against Trimble accusing her and her lawyers of invasion of privacy and defamation. While both cases are still pending, Cook’s complaint will go to trial, which could lead to positive outcomes for both cases.

Dolphins, Dalvin Cook Have Discussed Deal

June 22nd, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Long the clubhouse leaders for Dalvin Cook, the Dolphins are now looking into the Pro Bowl back as a free agent. Months after exploring a trade with the Vikings, the Dolphins have spoken to the six-year veteran.

Cook said during an interview with Sirius XM Radio’s Amber Theoharris he has spoken with the Dolphins and believes he would be a perfect fit in their system. The only back to total at least 1,100 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons, Cook expressed interest in joining the Dolphins shortly after his Vikings release.

“Yeah, it’s an exciting situation to go into when you got guys that can stretch the field on the outside. I think that defense is pretty solid to me. Tua [Tagovailoa], when he’s out on the field, they got a winning a record,” Cook said of the Dolphins (h/t to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson). “… As a running back you look for a certain scheme and I know the scheme that I’m good in, and that’s outside zone, and that’s what the Miami Dolphins run. So it’s like, you know, it’d be a perfect fit.”

PFR readers are viewing Miami as the clear frontrunner to be Cook’s next home. Cook does not necessarily disagree, though it is believed more teams are exploring a signing. The longtime starter has said he wants to join a contending team that has a regular role for him. The Dolphins were active at the running back position this offseason, but they do not have a back that would directly impede Cook taking over.

Miami recently re-signed Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson and Myles Gaskin, keeping costs low. After spending time with Texas A&M’s Devon Achane before the draft, the Dolphins drafted the SEC speedster. Cook would crowd Mike McDaniel‘s backfield, though Gaskin did not receive any guaranteed money to come back.

“A lot of people got me pegged going back home,” Cook said (via Harris) of a Dolphins deal. “A lot of people got me going to the Jets. It’s all over the place right now, but what’s gonna be important for me is just going to that right situation and helping somebody turn the page. I want to go and be the piece that can just help somebody win and get over the hump and whatever that situation comes with, if it comes with me taking less reps, but me being in the perfect situation to hold up that trophy, I don’t mind.

“I just wanna go somewhere I can just get the ball and just help somebody win, and turn the next page.”

Being willing to accept a lesser role may be important, but Cook preparing himself for a lower payday will be as well. The Dolphins are expected to make an offer, but it should not be anticipated said proposal will come in too close to the $10.4MM base salary Cook was to earn with the Vikings this year. Minnesota bailed on Cook’s $12.6MM-per-year contract, which ran through 2025, after months of separation speculation. The talented back, who is going into his age-28 season, has also said his shoulder is healed up from a February surgery.

The Dolphins hold $13.9MM in cap space. While the Jets’ number is much higher ($23.2MM), the team remains in the process of negotiating an Aaron Rodgers restructure. Due to a Packers reworking, Rodgers is currently tied to a $1.2MM 2023 cap number but an astonishing $107.6MM figure for 2024. The Jets are exploring ways to adjust the deal, which would result in his 2023 cap hit rising. New York could have an opening alongside Breece Hall, who is returning from an October ACL tear. The Jets’ backup situation also appears less promising compared to the Dolphins’, but Miami would both offer Cook a chance to play in his hometown and provide a clearer path into the starting lineup.

Poll: Who Will Sign Dalvin Cook?

June 21st, 2023 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Indicating on multiple occasions he plans to take his time during his first go-round in free agency, Dalvin Cook is surveying the field. The six-year Vikings running back is believed to have attracted interest from a few teams, but the market has not produced many known suitors yet.

When determining a Cook destination, it is probably logical to start with the Dolphins. Cook is a Miami native who dropped a bit of a hint about his hopes after the Vikings released him. Mutual interest is believed to exist between these parties, and while the Dolphins are not planning to give Cook a contract on par with the $12.6MM-per-year deal he signed with the Vikes back in 2020, they are expected to make an offer.

Miami adding Cook would crowd its backfield, given the re-signings of ex-Mike McDaniel 49ers charges Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, along with Myles Gaskin (though, Gaskin’s deal contains no guarantees). The team also drafted Texas A&M’s Devon Achane in Round 3. Cook would fit in on a Dolphins team loading up around Tua Tagovailoa‘s rookie contract. Tyreek Hill‘s deal represents the only notable skill-position contract on Miami’s payroll, and Tagovailoa is due to count only $9.63MM against the team’s cap this season. Next year becomes trickier, with Tua’s fifth-year option bumping his cap number to $23.17MM.

Elsewhere in the AFC East, the Jets have not exactly made their desperation a secret. They have brought in three veteran skill cogs already, in Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Randall Cobb, to team with Aaron Rodgers. New York features a question at running back, with Breece Hall coming off ACL surgery. But the 2022 second-round pick is on track to be ready for Week 1. The Jets have Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight and fifth-round rookie Israel Abanikanda. The Bills appear less needy, having signed Damien Harris and Latavius Murray. But the team does roster Dalvin’s younger brother, James Cook, and is aiming to capitalize on a Super Bowl window that has been open for years.

Beyond the competitive AFC East, the Bengals loom as an interesting option. They are still planning to seek a Joe Mixon pay cut. A refusal by the six-year starter would deal a blow to a locked-and-loaded offense, but in the event the $12MM-per-year back balks, the Bengals would check Cook boxes of a contender with a clear need. That said, Mixon would not have many options were he to refuse a cut. It will be interesting to see how much of a reduction Cincy requests.

The Ravens have seen their J.K. Dobbins–Gus Edwards backfield plan thrown off course by injuries, and considering the aggressive moves to bolster a long-shaky receiver situation, would Baltimore consider a veteran back without major injury questions? Cook has said he is recovered from the February shoulder surgery he underwent. The Browns are likely to explore the addition of a Nick Chubb backup, though the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot notes the team is unlikely to chase a Cook- or Ezekiel Elliott-level back for this role.

The NFC East profiles as another division to watch here. Elliott remains in play to return to Dallas on a significant pay reduction; Cook would be an upgrade on the popular Cowboy. But how much money would the team be comfortable shelling out during an offseason in which it tagged Tony Pollard at $10.9MM? Washington has Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson rostered, but the team is looking into former Eric Bieniemy Chiefs charge Kareem Hunt. Cook may need to compromise on his interest in landing with a contender, given the uncertainty surrounding likely Commanders QB1 Sam Howell. But the team’s running back interest should be factored into this equation.

Last month, the Buccaneers were connected to the pursuit of a veteran to complement Rachaad White. Cook would be overqualified for such a role, and Tampa Bay’s post-Tom Brady contender status is in question. But the Bucs, their Chase Edmonds acquisition notwithstanding, profile as a team that could stand to add a backfield piece. The Broncos initially came out as a team monitoring the four-time 1,100-yard rusher, joining the Dolphins in this regard, but they have since been mentioned as a team expected to steer clear of this market.

Kirk Cousins mentioned a potential Vikings reunion — which would need to come at a significantly reduced rate — and Cook has spoken highly of Minnesota. Though, this does not seem likely. Is there another team that should be mentioned as a Cook destination? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts on this summer free agency storyline in the comments section.

Dalvin Cook To Discuss Free Agency With DeAndre Hopkins

June 20th, 2023 at 9:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Alongside wideout DeAndre Hopkins, running back Dalvin Cook finds himself at the center of attention in the NFL’s free agent landscape. The latter is contemplating his next move, and that will include conversations with the former.

During an appearance on the Adam Schefter Podcast, Cook spoke about the possibility of joining the same team Hopkins ultimately does when he signs his next contract. Doing so would be surprising given the financial terms each multi-time Pro Bowler is likely to command from suitors, but Cook said, “if we end up on the same roster, that would be something epic for the NFL.”

The 27-year-old made it clear that he has yet to speak with Hopkins so far during his first career foray into free agency. A patient approach is expected for both players, with Cook angling for a clear-cut No. 1 role in his next home and Hopkins weighing the offers made by Tennessee and New England after his visits there last week. However, discussions will take place regarding what would be an interesting team-up scenario and one which would provide a team with a considerable boost in both the passing and running game.

“Everybody knows who D-Hop is,” Cook added. “You know what you’re getting out of D-Hop, and you know what he [is] going to bring to your roster. It’s the same for me… And he was one of those guys that I was going to reach out to, because, like, I know he [has] got the same mindset as me, like we trying to go win. We’re trying to go on the roster and trying to go contend.”

The Dolphins and Broncos were initially named as teams to watch on the Cook front, though the latter squad appears to be out of the running. The interest showed by Miami to add the hometown back will be worth watching as the summer progresses, particularly in relation to how serious of a push other teams make to acquire him. Depending on how discussions between he and Hopkins go, though, a new layer to each player’s free agent process could develop.

Latest On RB Dalvin Cook

June 15th, 2023 at 3:50pm CST by Sam Robinson

A free agent for nearly a week now, Dalvin Cook will likely spend more time surveying the market. The six-year Vikings running back will probably need to sort out priorities, as he said his destination target will be a winning situation and another role as a starter.

Not many places check both boxes, and it should not be out of the question Cook waits for a potential training camp/preseason injury to shake up a team’s situation.

“I want the value. I want somebody who values Dalvin Cook,” Cook said during an interview with Rich Eisen Show fill-in Tom Pelissero (via NFL.com). “I want somebody that wants me to be there and give me the ball. I just want to go into the right situation so I can go help somebody win.

“Like you said, the money is going to come. If you play good, they are going to pay you. I just want to go somewhere where it feels like it’s home and help somebody win and just go be me. Just go turn it loose and look for a home. That’s it.”

It should not be expected Cook will approach his previous Vikings terms. Minnesota gave the former second-round pick a five-year, $63MM contract just before the 2020 season. Seeing the running back market shift yet again, the Vikings are pivoting to Alexander Mattison. The longtime Cook backup signed a two-year, $7MM deal that is almost fully guaranteed. Ahead of a historic Justin Jefferson contract, Minnesota will make a substantial pay cut at running back. Cook played three seasons on his extension and balked at the prospect of a pay cut, though a specific reduction is not believed to have been offered.

This year’s running back market featured the top three options — Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard — out of play due to the franchise tag. The fallout from this and a number of other capable starters hitting the market produced a barrage of modest agreements. Miles Sanders‘ four-year, $25.4MM deal led the way, but even after the the Vikings bailed on Cook’s contract, Sanders’ AAV ranks 11th at the position. This has not been a good offseason for running backs, leading to a some state of the union-type comments from the game’s top ball carriers.

The Sanders contract should be considered a fairly safe ceiling for Cook, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com estimates (video link). While teams are interested, Cook’s position and age will limit his market. Still, Cook is the NFL’s only back to eclipse 1,100 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons. He also said the shoulder procedure he underwent in February has corrected a longstanding issue.

“I’m feeling great, being [in] the right shape and stuff like that just to play for a football team, that’s going to be the best thing,” Cook said, via Pelissero. “I’m not in a rush to go sign with nobody. I’m trying to find the right fit for me and my family.”

Kirk Cousins said he expressed faint hopes Cook could stay in Minnesota, offering (via SI.com) that “an outside chance” might exist for a reunion. While Cook expressed”a lot of love” for the Twin Cities, it would still surprise if he returns on a reduced contract. With the Broncos not expected to make a serious push, the Dolphins’ previous pole-position status does not appear threatened presently. But the Pro Bowler will aim to hold out for his hometown team — or another mystery suitor — to hit a certain financial benchmark.

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