Jets' Dalvin Cook shares how Aaron Rodgers impacted free-agency decision

Running back Dalvin Cook wanted to share more than just a division with New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers this time around. 

"Being on the other side of that for the last six years? I couldn’t be on the other side no more," Cook said about Rodgers during his introductory Jets news conference, as shared by Andy Vasquez of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "So it was just like, damn, I got the chance to go join him and help him win a game? That was a big thing." 

Cook, a 2017 second-round draft pick, spent his first six pro seasons with the Minnesota Vikings as they routinely faced Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in NFC North clashes. Minnesota officially released Cook in June, and the 28-year-old signed a one-year contract reportedly worth up to $8.6M with the Jets earlier this week. 

Cook insisted Thursday that Rodgers "didn’t necessarily recruit me" even though the two had discussions that the four-time Pro Bowl selection chose to keep private. 

"His game recruits itself," Cook said about his new QB1. "Like, Aaron is Aaron. You don’t want to be a part of something like that then I don’t know what it is, or what you want in football. So he really didn’t have to recruit me."

Expectations for the Rodgers-led Jets were sky-high long before Cook put pen to paper on his deal. As of Thursday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Jets as fourth among betting favorites at +1000 odds to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LVIII. 

Cook noted how his free-agency visit with the Jets in July helped him buy into the hype hovering over the franchise this summer. 

"It was good vibes with the coaches, the players, with everybody around the building," he explained. "Obviously, when you did deep and look at the roster, I think all the pieces are put together. I think I can help these guys."

Much will be made about how Cook will or won't mesh with second-year running back Breece Hall and others on the depth chart at the position. 

Assuming head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett can keep everyone involved happy through at least January, the Jets' offense seems, on paper, to be an elite group that could make life difficult for any playoff-caliber defense.