Five teams that should aggressively pursue RB Dalvin Cook

Unless a trade partner emerges in the 11th hour, the Minnesota Vikings are expected to release four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook on Friday.

The 27-year-old former second-round pick, who’s coming off a 1,173-yard, eight-touchdown season in 2022, is sure to have a sizeable list of suitors. But here are five teams that should go all-out to land Cook:

1. Denver Broncos

RBs under contract in 2023: Javonte Williams, Chase Edmunds, Damarea Crockett, Tyler Badie, Tony Jones Jr., Jaleel McLaughlin

Denver has arguably the worst group of running backs in the NFL. The Broncos have had just five 1,000-yard rushers since 2010, and if they want to get the most out of Russell Wilson, he’s going to need help behind him. While Cook is not the dual-threat player New Orleans Saints RB Alvin Kamara is, he’s not that far behind. 

Head coach Sean Payton had great success scheming ways to the ball in Kamara’s hands in New Orleans, and he could presumably use Cook in many of the same ways. If Payton can fix Wilson, with Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and second-round pick Denzel Mims catching passes, the Broncos could potentially make a run at the playoffs by adding a running back of Cook’s caliber.

2. Buffalo Bills

RBs under contract in 2023: James Cook, Damien Harris, Nyheim Hines, Jordan Mims, Latavius Murray, Jordan Mims

The Bills are clearly banking on Dalvin’s brother James to have a breakout year two. And while it’s reasonable to assume that he might, it’s also a bit insulting to expect Josh Allen to carry the load if he doesn’t.

Dalvin is a legitimate 1,000-yard runner who adds value in the passing game much like Devin Singletary did. Pairing him with his brother gives Buffalo a legitimate rushing attack and lessens the need for Allen to run for over 600 yards a season. Not to mention the fact that a competent run game makes Buffalo’s offense less one-dimensional and makes it easier to play with a lead.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

RBs under contract in 2023: Joe Mixon, Chris Evans, Trayveon Williams, Chase Brown, Jacob Saylors, Calvin Tyler Jr.

The Bengals have made it known they want to move on from Mixon, his $12.79 million cap hit and all of the off-the-field headaches he brings. The problem is, they lost backup Samaje Perine in free agency and there’s nobody reliable behind Mixon on the depth chart.

Enter Cook, who averages more rushing yards per game (82.1 to 67.2), more yards per carry (4.7 to 4.1), and has more total yards from scrimmage (7,787 to 7,150) than Mixon in the same amount of time. Every defensive coordinator knows the key to beating the Bengals is to take away Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and put pressure on Joe Burrow. Give him a running back as dynamic as Cook and it’s a game-changer.

4. New York Jets

RBs under contract in 2023: Breece Hall, Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, Israel Abanikanda, Travis Dye

If the Jets really want to put Aaron Rodgers in a position to succeed, give him an explosive running back like Cook, who’s averaged 241 carries and 42 receptions per season over the last five years. Rodgers likes to get his RBs involved in the passing game — Aaron Jones was Green Bay’s second-leading receiver three of the last four seasons and Packers RBs combined for 80 or more receptions each of the last four years — and Cook would be just as valuable of a weapon out of the backfield as he is taking a handoff. 

While all signs point to Hall being on track to return from his ACL injury by Week 1, Cook also gives New York a No. 1 back capable of 20-plus carries and allows the team to take its time with Hall’s recovery.

5. Los Angeles Rams

RBs under contract in 2023: Cam Akers, Zach Evans, Ronnie Rivers, Kyren Williams

Akers didn’t find his groove until the final three games of the season (43.8 percent of his 786 rushing yards come in those three games), and L.A.’s second-leading rusher Darrell Henderson Jr. is no longer on the roster. Adding Cook, who has four straight seasons with 1,110 or more rushing yards not only gives the Rams a legit No. 1 back, but it also alleviates the pressure on Akers, who’s just 23, to be “the guy.” 

While L.A. was a disaster last season, the cupboard isn’t bare. The Rams still have Cooper Kupp, Tyler Higbee, Aaron Donald and solid offensive and defensive lines. If Matthew Stafford is fully healthy, and he’s given a dual-threat weapon like Cook, L.A. could be a playoff team in 2023.