Former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is one of the biggest names left on the free agent market, but the latest NFL rumors suggest it might be a while before he signs a new contract. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the four-time Pro Bowler could wait until the middle of July before he finds a new team.
Dalvin Cook Rumors: Running Back Will Wait to Sign New Contract
The Latest Update
Fowler appeared on Saturday’s episode of SportsCenter with some breaking news regarding the big-name running back. Per the report, Cook wants to wait until after July 17th to sign with a new team, as this marks the end of the negotiating window for players on the franchise tag.
“He’s in a little bit of a wait-and-see mode right now,” Fowler said. “No official visits to teams that I’m aware of, and we talk about the franchise tag with [Saquon] Barkley, Cook can actually wait until July 17th, I’m told, because you’ve got three running backs on the franchise tag – Tony Pollard, Josh Jacobs.”
This rumor makes plenty of sense for Dalvin Cook in his hunt for a new contract. The running back market has dried up this offseason, as the plug-and-play nature of the position combined with the insane talent in the 2023 NFL Draft has created a surplus of starting-caliber running backs.
Was Dalvin Cook a top three back in the 2017 NFL Draft? pic.twitter.com/iR4p5bxrhH
— FF Mike Kash (@FFMikeKash) June 13, 2023
By waiting until after the negotiating window closes, Cook could see the market rise if somebody like Tony Pollard comes to terms on an extension. Additionally, waiting out the market means that he will be the unquestioned best option available, which obviously increases his odds of earning a larger payday. All the rumors suggest that Dalvin Cook will end up playing for the highest bidder, but which team will hand out the biggest contract?
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Possible Dalvin Cook Team Fits
There is a very good chance that Dalvin Cook’s next home is somewhere in the AFC East. The Miami Dolphins are the obvious choice, as they have a major need at running back, plenty of money to spend, and are in the midst of their championship window. The New York Jets, meanwhile, traded for a 39-year-old quarterback, and you’d only do that if you believe you have a Super Bowl roster. Breece Hall is still working his way back from an ACL injury, so adding Cook on a one-year deal would make plenty of sense for both sides.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills both have dire needs at running back, but they might not have the financial resources required to sign Dalvin Cook to a new contract. The Chiefs and Bills only have $650,891 and $5.48 million, respectively, in salary cap space, so they’d need to make a few transactions to make room for Cook. That being said, these could easily be the two best teams in the AFC, so if the money is equal, roster talent could be the tiebreaker.
Since the running back market is so dead, there is a chance that an out-of-nowhere team makes an offer that ends up beating out everyone else. The New Orleans Saints will need a running back when Alvin Kamara needs to serve his inevitable suspension, and Cook is substantially better than Jamaal Williams and rookie Kendre Miller. The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, are in the midst of a contract struggle with running back J.K. Dobbins. The former second-round pick is “holding in” for a new contract, and if Cook is cheap, the team could decide to trade Dobbins and roll with the four-time Pro Bowler.
Main Photo: Matt Krohn – USA Today Sports
