NFL rumors: Dalvin Cook could combine powers with a former rival

Dalvin Cook joining the New York Jets in his free agency remains very much a strong possibility.

Keep an eye on Dalvin Cook potentially linking up with Aaron Rodgers over on the New York Jets.

Although they may have played for rival teams in the NFC North, together, they could do something special in New York: Win Gang Green’s first Super Bowl in over half a century. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio mentioned the Jets were very much in on the former Minnesota Vikings running back. He also mentioned the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots.

Cook’s agent Zach Hiller spoke on a podcast over the weekend where he was asked to respond to Florio’s initial report of New York’s supposed interest in his client.

Nothing Hiller said would refute Florio’s initial claim that the Jets could be a suitor for Cook.

NFL rumors: New York Jets interest in Dalvin Cook remains very strong

Although I really like Breece Hall entering year two with the Jets out of Iowa State, I am all-in on the Jets making a serious push for Cook. Given that the three teams Florio listed as potential landing spots for him all reside in the AFC East, the losers in the Cook sweepstakes will pay a price for it. To go to the Jets, Cook must turn down The Patriot Way and a chance of playing back home.

The Miami native starred collegiately at Florida State before being drafted by the Vikings. Despite the Dolphins being mostly dysfunctional throughout much of Cook’s lifetime, now is a pretty good entry point for him with Miami if he were to go there. This is because second-year head coach Mike McDaniel is an offensive wizard when it comes to designing and implementing the run game.

Of course, decisions will have to be made by Cook, Hiller and others here. All things equal, I would say the Jets are the best landing spot for him, simply because New York can get to heights greater than Miami and New England can presently. The Dolphins could be a top-eight team in the NFL, whereas the Patriots could be a playoff team. New York could play for a trip to the Super Bowl…

Overall, there does some to be a more robust market for Cook at this stage of the game in his NFL free agency than we expected. He is a tremendous player, but plays a position where decline is inevitable as one approaches or surpasses 30. For now, all eyes should be on the AFC East teams to see if Cook could be a fit. Heck, it would serve the Buffalo Bills to kick the tires on him as well.

Should the Jets land Cook in free agency, it gets them to a top-four level inside of the deep AFC.