Dalvin Cook is in no hurry to find a new home.
But the former Pro Bowler knows exactly the type of offense he wants to play for — and it just so happens that two AFC East teams fit that bill.
Cook told SiriusXM Radio this weekend he wants to return to the outside zone run game he thrived in a few years ago.
“As a running back you look for a certain scheme and I know the scheme that I’m good in, and that’s outside zone, and that’s what the Miami Dolphins run. So it’s like, you know, it’d be a perfect fit,” Cook said on Sirius XM NFL Radio. “And the roster, like you said, speaks for itself.”
The Dolphins and Jets have both used that run-blocking scheme in recent years and the Jets have seen recovering RB Breece Hall thrive in it prior to his injury at the mid-point of 2023.
The Dolphins, who have repeatedly been linked to the Cook, are in need of a feature back.
Cook surely knows that.
He appears to be waiting for the right price before signing on the dotted line.
“You know, a lot of people got me pegged going back home (to the Dolphins). A lot of people got me going to the Jets. It’s all over the place right now, but what’s gonna be important for me is just going to that right situation and helping somebody turn the page,” Cook said.
That includes giving up the bell cow role he’s had in Minnesota. Cook said splitting reps isn’t a big deal if it means landing on a talented team ready for a Super Bowl run.
“I just wanna go somewhere I can just get the ball and just help somebody win, and turn the next page.
“I want to go and be the piece that can just help somebody win and get over the hump and whatever that situation comes with, if it comes with me taking less reps, but me being in the perfect situation to hold up that trophy, I don’t mind.
Cook’s play has fallen off since the 2020 season when he posted a Pro Football Focus grade of almost 90 and 16 touchdowns.
His yards-per-carry have remained impressive (4.5 ypc in 2022) but Cook hasn’t had the same spark.
Cook has continued to rush behind one of the NFL’s best lines but is rushing value “over expected yards per carry” was – 0.1, meaning he averaged fewer yards than he was expected to on his 2022 season carries.
That wasn’t the case in 2020.
Cook is coming off of a shoulder injury but said he’ll be healthy for training camp.
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