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Dalvin Cook: There’s only one team that makes sense for the RB

By Lou Scataglia

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 17: Dalvin Cook #4 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the fourth quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - DECEMBER 17: Dalvin Cook #4 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after rushing for a touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts during the fourth quarter of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 17, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) /
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The future of Minnesota Vikings’ running back Dalvin Cook is still unknown, but if he’s not a Viking in 2023, there’s only one team that makes sense.  The talk of Cook being a Miami Dolphin, if he’s not a Viking in 2023, is silly to me.

The two teams apparently nearly acted on a trade, but the Dolphins drafted Devon Achane in the 2023 NFL Draft to pair with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, so their backfield is full and quite crowded.

The veteran RB is coming off of four straight Pro Bowl seasons of at least 1,100 rushing yards, and he turns 28 this offseason.  All in all, while he isn’t 25 years old anymore, it’s clear that Dalvin Cook is still very effective and would make quite a few teams better, but to me, there’s really only one team that makes sense to me, and that’s the Denver Broncos.

Dalvin Cook was taken back in the 2017 NFL Draft when now Broncos General Manager George Paton was still with the Vikings.  Paton does have a track record of prioritizing the RB position, which includes using a 2021 second-round pick on Javonte Williams.

Williams also plays a huge part in why I think Cook is a perfect fit for Denver.  Right now, miraculously, Williams appears to be on track to return by week one for the Broncos.  However, just because he can come back that early, does not mean he’d be 100%.

There’s likely a lot that goes into coming back from a severe knee injury, and I’m sure it’d take weeks, perhaps even months to “feel” 100% again.

The Broncos can ensure Javonte Williams is as healthy as possible and still field a great running game by pursuing Cook.  Furthermore, Denver does appear to be angling towards being a run-first offense in 2023.

They added two excellent run-blocking offensive linemen in free agency in Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey.  They also signed an excellent blocking tight end in Chris Manhertz, and if Sean Payton plans on getting the most out of Russell Wilson, doing what was done while he was in Seattle makes the most sense.

Wilson’s best football came when playing within offenses that sported a top running game, and a potential Dalvin Cook/Broncos marriage would help Payton field a top running game.

There’s just so much here that makes sense to me, Broncos’ fan bias aside.  If Cook is released, the Broncos should pounce, but I’m not sure they are in a position to give up capital to acquire him if the Vikings are still holding out hope for a trade.

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