The New York Jets fancy themselves as Super Bowl contenders heading into the 2023 season. Yes, these New York Jets.
There are several reasons for this. Chief among them was the acquisition of three-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers weeks after he came out of “hibernation.” Teams don’t generally acquire 39-year-old quarterbacks, one who has contemplated retirement over the past 16 months more than Tom Brady has actually retired, unless they plan on making a play for the Lombardi.
Enter into the equation released former Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook. The stud back was sent packing from Minnesota simply because teams don’t value running backs in today’s NFL and the fact that the Vikings are being as cheap as a certain MLB owner.
Cook, 27, still has a whole lot left in the tank. He can (and will) help a contending team. By definition, the Jets fit into that category. Yes, we’re serious. This isn’t a prank.
Here’s why New York should do what it can to acquire the veteran ahead of training camp.
Related: Ideal Dalvin Cook landing spots in NFL free agency
Relying on Breece Hall would be foolish for the New York Jets
First off, Hall was absolutely brilliant when the former Iowa State star was on the field as a rookie. With all due respect to teammate Garrett Wilson, Hall would have been the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year if the running back didn’t suffer a torn ACL seven games in. Hall averaged 6.9 yards per touch an put up 618 total yards in seven games.
Unfortunately, it’s all about that whole ACL thing. We’re certainly in an era of the sports world that sees athletes return from an injury of this ilk without looking back. It is no longer anywhere near a career-ender.
With that said, it would absolutely be foolish to rely on Hall as RB1 when you’re looking to compete with the likes of the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC. All three boast quarterbacks who are either in their prime or have not yet hit it. A 39-year-old Rodgers is not in the same conversation. That’s not to say he’s simply a game manager. But he’s no longer the gunslinger those other three are.
If the Jets have to go one-dimensional because of another Hall injury, it will spell doom come January. And it’s not like this team can rely on Michael Carter (4.0 yards per rush through two seasons) to hold down the fort.
Related: Top remaining NFL free agents and ideal landing spots
Dalvin Cook is still a really good football player
NFL teams treating running backs like they’re a dime-a-dozen notwithstanding, Cook can still cradle that rock and do his thing. The former second-round pick has proven that over and over again throughout his six-year NFL career. This past season alone, Cook put up 1,468 total yards and 10 touchdowns.
- Dalvin Cook stats (2019-22): 5,024 rushing yards, 4.7 average, 170 receptions, 1,399 receiving yards, 6,423 total yards, 46 TD
This four-year span has seen Cook average 1,256 rushing yards per season. The last New York Jets running back to even reach that plateau in a single season was Thomas Jones back in 2009. No, Jets fans, you can’t blame the quarterbacks for all of your misery since then.
New York Jets can avoid AFC East rival landing Dalvin Cook
As of right now, New York joins the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills with the best betting odds to land Cook in free agency. No, I don’t have a pun for that outside of three besties having a slap fight over that newly single neighbor.
Miami believes it can contend for a conference title as long as Tua Tagovailoa remains healthy. Buffalo has been the kings of the AFC East since Tom Brady left Bill Belichick for dead in New England back in 2019. The Jets not only want to get on their level, but they want to surpass the two rivals.
What better way to stick it to the Dolphins and Bills by offering up more money to land Dalvin Cook? New York boasts the fourth-most cap room in the NFL ($24.79 million). Miami is $13.97 million under the cap while Buffalo has about as much cap room ($1.51 million) as it costs for a gallon of gas. This is doable.
It just makes too much sense. Get it done, New York!