The New York Jets waived running back Dalvin Cook, ending a brief tenure that saw the veteran running back struggle to get on the field for much of the 2023 campaign.
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Breece Hall's rapid recovery from a torn ACL and emergence as the Jets' bellcow back in his second season proved a major roadblock for Cook. The 28-year-old veteran rushed for 214 yards while averaging just 3.2 yards per carry. Cook's role completely evaporated in the Jets' offense to the point that he did not play a single snap in New York's Week 17 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
Still, as injuries and inconsistency plague several backfields of teams making a playoff push, Cook could add quality depth and potentially a strong short-yardage option for teams with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
In an effort to land with the best possible situation, Cook has reportedly agreed to waive his guaranteed money by restructuring his contract ahead of being released by the Jets.
Here's a breakdown of Cook's four best fits.
Dallas Cowboys
If the model for success in the NFL is to have two effective running backs, especially in the playoffs, the Cowboys would be wise to claim Cook. While Tony Pollard is in the midst of a career-season, rushing for 935 yards with five touchdowns, while averaging 4.0 yards per carry, Dallas is paper-thin behind him. Rico Dowdle is averaging 3.9 yards per carry while rushing for 315 yards and two scores, as rookie Deuce Vaughn has struggled to see the field for much of the 2023 campaign. If nothing else, Cook could keep Pollard fresh as part of a rotation and serve as a goal-line and short-yardage battering ram, similarly to how the Cowboys deployed Ezekiel Elliott for much of the 2022 season.
Houston Texans
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Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud and head coach DeMeco Ryans have led one of the most surprising pushes for the playoffs across the league this season, but the Texans' backfield could use a veteran presence. Since Cook only logged 67 carries, without having 10 carries in a single game, Cook could provide some fresh legs alongside Devin Singletary and Dameon Pierce in Houston's backfield. Cook's playoff experience with the Vikings could prove to be an asset for the Texans, and he sounds like a player who has plenty of motivation after the way his brief tenure with the Jets went down, both of which could make him an ideal fit for the competitive culture Ryans has forged this season.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have a couple of luxuries that could make them an ideal fit for Cook, if he slides to the bottom of the waiver order, or as a free agent signing should he clear waivers. After clinching the No. 1 seed in the NFC, San Francisco has the benefit of the bye week to get Cook up to speed in Kyle Shanahan's system. Likewise, after Christian McCaffrey suffered a calf injury against Washington, the 49ers could use added running back depth to ease McCaffrey's workload in the playoffs. Given that Elijah Mitchell has been a bit of a non-factor, rushing for 229 yards with one touchdown and Jordan Mason has logged more than five carries just once this season, Cook could carve out a niche immediately. Likewise, the fact that Cook remains a bit of a threat catching the ball out of the backfield, with 236 career receptions, entering Shanahan's system might trigger a bit of a production renaissance.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles' offense unraveled at the worst possible time, as the running game has failed to consistently move the chains late in games when Philadelphia needs it to be most effective. Philadelphia is averaging only 4.2 yards per carry this season, and D'Andre Swift has scored a rushing touchdown just once since Thanksgiving. If nothing else, Cook could push Boston Scott for the No. 3 running back job, and potentially unseat Kenneth Gainwell who has struggled with inconsistency. If the Eagles are going to return to a physical, run-oriented offense during the postseason, that helped power a 10-1 start to the regular season, adding Cook could be a step in that direction.
