Don’t be shocked if the Miami Dolphins make a play for running back Dalvin Cook in the event that the Minnesota Vikings decide to part ways with him.
Despite having played in the second-fewest games of any running back in the top 10 for that category, Cook, a native of South Florida, is the fourth-leading rusher in the NFL since he entered the league in 2017. This is despite the fact that Cook is the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher. Although he recorded a career low in yards per touch in 2022 with 4.8, the fact that he played a complete season for the first time was an encouraging indication for the 27-year-old running back. He rushed for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns that year.
But does it make sense for Cook to be on the Dolphins?
We are certain that Chris Grier, the general manager of the Dolphins, will conduct his research as thoroughly as he always does anytime a player of a high level is on the market. According to sources who spoke with Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Miami Dolphins made inquiries about running back D’Andre Swift after the Detroit Lions chose Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round of the NFL draft a month ago.
After re-signing all four of the Dolphins’ free agents at the position, including the team’s leading rushers Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., general manager Chris Grier made the decision to choose running back Devon Achane two rounds after the Lions grabbed quarterback Joshua Gibbs.
The playcalling of head coach Mike McDaniel was more to blame for the Dolphins’ ranking of 25th in the league in rushing yards at the end of the 2022 season than the performance of the players who carried the ball.
Quick Links
At the league meeting in March, he shared his thoughts by stating, “Ultimately, we had the opportunity to bring two of our strongest character contributors and really players that we depend on in Raheem and Jeff.” “I believe that both of them are averaging more than 4.7 yards per run. If we didn’t run the ball because they didn’t run the ball well, I believe there would be a little different vibe about the game overall. When we had a lot of players out with injuries, we struggled to run the ball effectively, and in other games, I just didn’t call enough runs.
“Therefore, when you examine it from a historical perspective, if you can get a runner with a score of 4.5 or above, they are doing something fairly excellent. I consider them to be a significant component of not just our team but also the very foundation of who we are as individuals; they make a significant contribution to the atmosphere of the locker room.
Cook has a career average of 4.7 yards per rush over the course of his six years in the league, and his 1,282 carries rank as the fourth-most in the league during that time span.
Although he has a reputation for being a workhorse back for the Vikings, the running backs position for the Dolphins is just too crowded for him to assume that role upon his arrival in South Florida. Therefore, if he is searching for carries, there are other possibilities outside Miami that are preferable. Even though the Dolphins will have around $13 million more in available salary cap space after June 1, it’s doubtful that they would make him an offer that comes close to the $11 million that he is owed for this season if he stays with the Vikings. He would probably also have to accept a pay cut in order to sign with the Dolphins. He is owed $11 million if he stays in Minnesota.
A probable return to Cook’s hometown is made more difficult by a number of different circumstances. However, the Dolphins are ultimately preparing for a run at the Super Bowl this season, and the addition of talented players might help steer them toward achieving that objective.
