Top Landing Spots for Dalvin Cook
Dalvin Cook has been released from the Jets, and he could land on one of these playoff teams.
The New York Jets have released Dalvin Cook after an extremely disappointing stint with the team. In fairness to Cook, just about everything and everybody involving the Jets this season has been disappointing and that is key to his future.
He now has an opportunity to sign with a playoff team, but what playoff teams want him after what they've seen from him this season? The question teams are going to have to ask themselves is, is the Jets offensive line and quarterback situation so terrible that it's nearly impossible to rush in that offense or is Cook just washed up? We would be surprised if no team signed him, but it will be very interesting to see where he lands, how he's used, and if he actually has anything left in the tank.
Top Four Potential Landing Spots
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens make the most sense purely from a football standpoint. For Cook, of course he would want to go there. They run the ball more than any team in the league and they are the favorites to win the Super Bowl after dismantling the second and third-best team in the league over the past two weeks. There is no doubt that this would be an ideal situation for him.
As for the Ravens, they are in need of running back depth. After losing Keaton Mitchell, their depth chart now consists of Gus Edwards, Justice Hill and Melvin Gordon. You can make a strong case that Cook would immediately be at the very least their RB2. He should look significantly better in that system with that quarterback as well. Edwards has cemented his position in that offense, but Cook could easily supplant Hill and Gordon.
Dallas Cowboys
Cook was linked to the Cowboys this offseason and they have since struggled all season to run the ball. Tony Pollard has not been the back that they hoped he would be and they have next to nothing behind him on the depth chart. Rico Dowdle is the RB2 and missed Week 17 due to injury. If there is a splashy signing to be made, at least from name value in this case, you know Jerry Jones is going to be involved. He could also be panicking right now as the team once again looks to still be a piece away. Assuming that piece is in the running game isn't a crazy conclusion to jump to, although, there are some other issues as well. If this were to happen, Cook could find himself in the playoffs in a near 50/50 timeshare which is probably the best case scenario as far as playing time goes.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills are another team that was linked to Cook this offseason and for obvious reasons. They needed running back depth and his brother James Cook is also on the team. However, there were some reports that he didn't want to go there and steal his brother's job. It's safe to say that that's no longer a serious concern. James has been significantly better than Dalvin all season in just about every way possible. That doesn't mean the team can't still use him though. With Damien Harris out for the year, the only backs behind Cook are Latavius Murray, Ty Johnson and Leonard Fournette. This is another depth chart where you can make the case that Cook immediately vaults to being the RB2. In our opinion, this is where he could make the biggest impact should the Bills find themselves in the playoffs after Sunday Night Football which is the most likely case even with a loss.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are the team that Cook was most closely linked to this offseason other than the Jets. It had appeared to come down to those two teams, but the Dolphins decided not to pay him and the Jets were at the mercy of Aaron Rodgers and had to do whatever he demanded. That was the absolute correct decsion. However, some things have changed over the course of the season and Miami could be looking for some depth at the position. Raheem Mostert was forced to miss Week 17 and his status for Week 18 is very much up in the air. Salvon Ahmed is also out for the season. Currently, they have De'Von Achane soaking up the vast majority of the carries. While he is wildly talented, he is also undersized and hasn't proven he can handle a full workload long-term. Behind Achane is Jeff Wilson, who you can make a case that Cook is still better than. There is no chance Cook jumps a healthy Mostert or Achane and that's why the Dolphins are last on this list. Nevertheless, they are his hometown team that he has expressed wanting to play for and there is no guarantee they will have a healthy backfield when the playoffs kick off in less than two weeks.
