Dalvin Cook Rumors: Patriots 'Almost Certainly' out on RB, No Updates on Jets Buzz

Star running back Dalvin Cook continues to be a free agent, and most of the buzz surrounding him at this point is coming from the AFC East.

According to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, the New York Jets "have shown heavy interest in Cook, but there haven't been any recent developments on that, according to a league source. The New England Patriots, who had some peripheral interest in Cook, are now almost certainly not going in that direction, according to a league source."

The Miami Dolphins have also been linked to Cook, though ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported last week that Miami "would love to have him but considers him a luxury" and isn't "eager to enter a bidding war."

It's a rather large indication of just how far the running back market has fallen that a player of Cook's ability is still available after being released in early June. The four-time Pro Bowler has rushed for at least 1,100 yards in four straight seasons, accumulating 1,468 yards from scrimmage and 10 total touchdowns in 2022.

For the Vikings, moving on from Cook saved them $9 million in cap space for the 2023 season. And teams haven't seemed to be eager to enter a bidding war for his services, though some reports have suggested that Cook has been fine taking his time in free agency.

Cook would bolster both the Jets and Patriots, but neither team is hurting at running back either.

The Jets have the promising Breece Hall and Michael Carter available at the position. The Patriots have Rhamondre Stevenson, who rushed for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns in 2022.

Still, Cook is a proven and dynamic player at the position. Either team pulling the trigger on signing him would be more than justifiable.

But the Dolphins remain arguably the best fit. Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. are solid if unspectacular players when healthy, and Mostert managed to play 16 games last year, just the second time he's done so since he entered the NFL in 2015.

Wilson, meanwhile, is a career backup. There's no doubt that Cook would add more reliability and playmaking to an already explosive Dolphins' offense, and make them one of the scariest teams in football.

For now, however, his free agency rolls on.