Dalvin Cook Hops Aboard a Super Bowl Contender
This past offseason, the Minnesota Vikings made the decision to release RB Dalvin Cook.
As training camps across the league got underway, the four-time Pro Bowler made the decision to sign with the New York Jets, hoping to make a run for the Super Bowl with Aaron Rodgers. However, things did not go as planned with the Jets.
New York lost Aaron Rodgers in Week 1 to a torn Achilles, and Cook was rarely utilized in the backfield because of second-year RB Breece Hall eating up much of the time. As a result, the Jets waived Cook earlier this week, and he was free to sign with a new team after clearing waivers at 3 PM Central.
It didn’t take long for the running back to find a home. Shortly after Cook cleared waivers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that the former Viking would be joining the Baltimore Ravens, once again paving the way for a road to the Super Bowl.
Dalvin Cook Joins the Baltimore Ravens
Pelissero tweeted on Thursday evening, “Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook is expected to sign with the #Ravens for the playoffs, per his agency @LAASportsEnt. Cook now has 2 1/2 weeks to get ready for the divisional playoff game.”
This is the landing spot that always made the most sense for Cook. Heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore has already secured the AFC North title and No. 1 seed because of their victory over the Miami Dolphins last week.
As a result, they will have a bye in the Wild Card round, and they will not have to play their starters until the Divisional round, which begins on Saturday, January 20th.
The Ravens also have a pretty clear need for extra running back depth on their roster. They lost JK Dobbins to a torn Achilles in Week 1, and rookie standout Keaton Mitchell suffered a torn ACL back in Week 15.
As a result, Baltimore only has three running backs on their roster right now: Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, and Melvin Gordon. Edwards has put together a strong season in the backfield with 13 rushing TDs, but he is not quite the home run hitter at the position that Cook proved to be with the Vikings.
Combining the powers of Lamar Jackson both in the passing and running games along with a savvy, veteran RB duo like Cook and Edwards should provide the Ravens with plenty of strength in their backfield as they try to capture a Lombardi Trophy.
While many teams across the league have peaked and faded (or vice versa) over the course of the year, Baltimore has remained a steady force throughout this season. They Ravens have strung together 10 wins in their last 11 games, including dominant victories over Detroit, Miami, and San Francisco, and they should be a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.