One of the NFL’s elite running backs is set to be on the free agent market with the Minnesota Vikings reportedly telling Dalvin Cook that he will be released.
The Miami Dolphins were installed as the early +100 favorite by SportsBetting.ag to sign Cook, ahead of AFC East rivals the New York Jets (+250) and the Buffalo Bills (+500).
Dalvin Cook Next Team Odds
Miami Dolphins (+100)
New York Jets (+250)
Buffalo Bills (+500)
Dallas Cowboys (+1000)
Cincinnati Bengals (+1000)
Chicago Bears (+1200)
San Francisco 49ers (+1400)
New England Patriots (+1400)
Baltimore Ravens (+1600)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1800)
Philadelphia Eagles (+1800)
Los Angeles Rams (+2000)
New Orleans Saints (+2000)
The Dolphins currently have a quartet of veterans in their backfield — Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin — along with third-round pick De’Von Achane.
However, Cook has four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and doesn’t turn 28 until August. He provides a combination of production in his prime years the others lack, although Miami coach Mike McDaniel wasn’t about to comment on Cook until he is officially released.
That’s expected to happen Friday, and any comments specifically about Cook before then could lead to tampering charges.
“March 6, 1983, the day I was born, right? Now we take a closer look at that date and that in fact was not yesterday,” McDaniel said Thursday when asked about Cook. “OK, so people that are rumored to be tall, short, people that are rumored to be, you’re not going to get this guy. I’m Year Two. OK?”
The Jets present another potentially intriguing landing spot. Breece Hall is expected to return from his torn ACL in time for the season, but New York has little in the way of proven depth behind that. Michael Carter is a decent change-of-pace back and the Jets spent a fifth-round pick on Israel Abanikanda.
The Bills have Dalvin’s brother — second-year speedster James Cook — and added veterans Damien Harris and Latavius Murray in free agency. With Buffalo’s Super Bowl aspirations in what figures to be a highly competitive division, Cook could provide a workhorse back to tandem with his brother in supporting quarterback Josh Allen.
The shortest odds in the NFC belong to the Dallas Cowboys, who parted ways with Ezekiel Elliott this offseason. The depth chart behind Tony Pollard is currently led by Malik Davis, Ronald Jones and sixth-round rookie Deuce Vaughn.
A second-round pick in 2017, Cook has rushed for 5,993 yards and 47 touchdowns and has 221 receptions for 1,794 yards and five scores in 73 career games (72 starts) in Minnesota.
Cook is recovering from offseason surgery to repair a shoulder injury that was originally suffered in 2019. His agency said in February that Cook is expected to be healthy for the start of the season.
–Field Level Media