Why Cowboys adding RB Dalvin Cook would be more confusing than it'd be exciting

Although a visit doesn't equal a signing, the Cowboys have been linked to Cook for months now and a partnering appears to be very possible.

The four-time Pro Bowler has had a highly productive career with four 1,000+ yard seasons to his name. He's averaged 5.1 yards per touch and 92 yards from scrimmage per game in a 88-game sample, per PFR.. Overall, in his career, he's gotten the job done.

The problem? His 3.2 yards per attempt in 2023 is a career low at 3.2. Was Cook's decline a sign of the team he played with, the New York Jets, or a new reality for the 29-year-old?

Impact on the Cowboys' 53-man roster

If Cook is indeed signed, it would shake up the team's running back room. In addition to fullback Hunter Luepke, I had three backs making my roster prediction over the weekend: 

• Rico Dowdle
• Ezekiel Elliott
• Deuce Vaughn

Vaughn in particular is on the roster bubble more than the other two: Elliott didn't even play in the preseason and Dowdle got one drive in the preseason opener. And although Vaughn has shown promise in the preseason as an explosive ballcarrier, he seems to be locked in on a battle with Malik Davis, who doesn't pop off the page as a playmaker like Deuce, but does contribute on special teams. 

That's where this gets real muddy for me. Honestly, I'd be more confused than excited if Dallas goes through with Cook.

If the Cowboys bring in the four-time Pro Bowler, what exactly is the plan at RB? In 2017, Elliott and Cook on the same backfield would be a scary proposition. In 2024, it's two aging veterans who failed to average four yards per attempt last year and don't really do much (if anything) on special teams. They have a combined one snap on special teams since 2019.

And heck, gone is the explosiveness, too.

Cook ran the ball 67 times in 2023. Out of 59 running backs with a minimum of 67 attempts, Elliott had the second lowest explosive play rate and Cook the 14th lowest, per Sports Info Solutions. Additionally, Cook's EPA per attempt was the worst of the group. 

Let's assume the Cowboys bring in Cook. Neither he nor Zeke seem to provide a lot of spark for the offense. Meanwhile, Rico Dowdle could be the likely RB1 as the more explosive one of the bunch and even though he's got the special teams experience, if he ends up being RB1, would Dallas want to risk him as a specialist?

Or will Dallas go into 2024 with no backs that play special teams? At least in Vaughn you get a kick returner and some upside to his game. You're betting on him being a playmaker in September. Or will they go with four backs plus a fullback? 

We know who Elliott and Cook are. But grouping "names we know" isn't the way NFL rosters are built. This would be a head-scratcher if the Cowboys go through with it. Best case scenario, the team gets the dangerous version of Cook that once averaged five yards per rushing attempt (2020). In reality, however, this would remain an underwhelming group with the former second-round pick in it and would arguably cost the Cowboys a shot at someone with higher upside.

Give me the latter ten times out of ten.