The New York Jets have had a different season offensively than many would have thought. The team made large moves in the off season, gaining future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers and Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook. The former suffered a season injury within the first minute of the Jets’ season opener. This meant that former top overall pick Zach Wilson had to start once again after he was transitioning to the backup role.
Many though that Cook was going to be the premier RB in New York as stud sophomore Breece Hall was coming off a brutal injury. Cook did start out getting the majority of handoffs but game after game, he received less and less.
The Downfall of Dalvin
As soon as week one, it was noticeable that Cook was not performing how fans were used to when he wore purple and gold for the Vikings. He only recorded 33 yards with 13 carries, with a ten yard run as his longest gain. This was Cook’s only game recording more than 10 carries.
Throughout the season, Cook managed to log 67 carries for 214 yards and zero touchdowns. It is fair to say this season was underwhelming for Cook who has had 5 1,000+ yard seasons in his career. The return of Hall definitely impacted Cooks workload, but Cook was not able to do much with the limited carries he had, only averaging 3.2 yards per carry.
Dalvin’s Next Move
This move makes sense as the 28 year old Cook looks to not only help a contender but also win his first super bowl ring. He still has some gas left in his tank and could really help a contending team’s run game. It would be a surprise to see him not on a roster by the start of the Playoffs.
Right now is the perfect time for a free agent to be signed. Teams are looking to make that final push to win the Lombardi by bolstering their lineups. Cook is easily the best available running back and if signed for cheap would be a great rental.