Dalvin Cook Is on the Move
The Minnesota Vikings have struggled to run the ball since Kevin O’Connell entered the building as the team’s head coach in 2022. His predecessor, Mike Zimmer, has emphasized the rushing attack more, but he also had Adrian Peterson’s last great year in 2015 and Dalvin Cook throughout his prime, which certainly helped implement a dynamic ground game.
Dalvin Cook Is on the Move
O’Connell, meanwhile, got one final season out of Cook in which he still racked up yards but surely wasn’t in his prime anymore. Alexander Mattison, last year’s starter, didn’t look like a starting-caliber player during the entire campaign. The offensive-minded coach hopes Aaron Jones can revive the rushing game to provide some more balance.
A team that has been airing it out in the last few seasons is the Dallas Cowboys. Dak Prescott will once again be asked to throw the ball a lot, considering the departure of Tony Pollard and the state of the running back crew led by Ezekiel Elliott, a player who is long past his prime.
The Cowboys are looking to strengthen the group, and they will host former Vikings Pro Bowler Cook.
Tom Pelissero tweeted on Monday evening: “The Cowboys might not be done: Sources say 4x Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook is flying to Dallas tonight for a visit. Unlike a year ago, when he was rehabbing from shoulder surgery, Cook has hit the weights all offseason and says he feels the best he has in years.”
Those tweets should always be treated with a grain of salt, especially when they are about a formerly great player on his downward trajectory and include phrases like “he’s never felt better.”
Cook hasn’t been among the better running backs in the NFL since 2021. His 2022 season produced a bunch of yards from scrimmage, but his advanced statistics were below average across the board. The Vikings ultimately released him in the 2023 offseason, and he moved on, signing with the Jets.
He was supposed to spell star rusher Breece Hall, but the difference between the two was so immense that the Jets had no choice but to give Hall all the touches he could handle, especially with Zach Wilson under center. In 15 games with the Jets, Cook rushed for 214 yards on 67 carries, resulting in an atrocious 3.2 yards per carry. His 15 receptions led to 78 yards, but he failed to reach the endzone.
Following his release, the Ravens picked him up. As the number one seed in the AFC with a subsequent bye week in the first round, it was a great opportunity to hunt that elusive ring. Still, it was also a good opportunity, as the Ravens had lost multiple runners with injuries.
In the divisional round, Cook logged eight carries for 23 yards, primarily in garbage time. One week later, facing the Chiefs, the veteran didn’t see the field.
Cook turned 29 earlier this month. Once a runner has lost a step, the downfall is approaching quickly. The Cowboys will host the four-time Pro Bowler and should be highly skeptical he can return to his former heights.
Dallas already employs former Vikings stars Linval Joseph and Eric Kendricks while Zimmer is coordinating the defense.
Cook ranks third in Vikings history in rushing yards and fourth in rushing touchdowns and was a great player for a long time. However, Father Time is still undefeated, although many have tried, and the usual linear decline for running backs could be a problem for the former second-rounder.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Road to 53: Vikings Roster Cut Tracker 2024
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt