Dalvin Cook, Cowboys Agree to Contract in NFL Free Agency After Jets, Ravens Stints

Veteran running back Dalvin Cook agreed to terms on a contract with the Dallas Cowboys, agency LAA told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

According to ESPN's Todd Archer, Cook will start on the Cowboys' practice squad:

Cook staying on the market this was long was a sign of how his stock fell precipitously over the course of the 2023 season.

The four-time Pro Bowler was cut by the Minnesota Vikings last June after a trade failed to materialize. He didn't sign with a team until August and settled for a one-year pact with the New York Jets.

That seemingly reflected a broad skepticism in Cook's value moving forward, and his performance offered little rebuttal.

Breece Hall, who was coming off an ACL injury, wasted no time in cementing his status the best rushing option in New York's backfield. That left Cook relegated to backup duty, and he struggled mightily in a more limited role.

The 28-year-old ran for 214 yards and zero touchdowns in 15 games, his 3.2 yards per carry well below his career average (4.6).

It took six games before Cook started to examine his future in New York, but a divorce didn't arrive until early January. He subsequently signed with the Baltimore Ravens and only saw action in their AFC divisional round win over the Houston Texans, carrying the ball eight times for 23 yards.

The wheels fell off for the Jets almost from the jump due to Aaron Rodgers' Achilles injury, and they might have been doomed to fail anyways thanks to issues unrelated to his absence.

In particular, the offensive line was an area of concern flagged in the offseason that proved to be a sore spot with a combination of injuries and underwhelming output. The state of the O-line is also a factor that can help to explain why Cook was such a shell of his usual self.

On Pro Football Reference, a successful run is one that gains at least 40 percent of the yardage required on first down, 60 percent on second down and then 100 percent on third and fourth downs. Cook's 38.8 percent successful rush rate was nearly 10 percent below his average from the six years in Minnesota (48.5). He also gained just 1.9 yards per carry before contact, another career low.

The days of Cook eclipsing 1,000 yards on the ground and 1,500 yards from scrimmage are in all likelihood gone. Put him in an offense with a more stable O-line and any semblance of a passing game, and he could look like a much different player than he was in 2023.

Betting on him to bounce back isn't a bad short-term gamble for the Cowboys.

Letting Tony Pollard walk as a free agent was an understandable call because his three-year, $21.8 million deal with the Tennessee Titans was a fairly sizable investment in the present market.

Fans, however, are justified in wondering whether Cook and a returning Ezekiel Elliott combine to represent a net upgrade.