The New York Jets could be busy ahead of the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
Dalvin Cook has expressed a desire to move on. Cook currently averages 2.8 yards per carry, the worst among qualified running backs, but he cites his diminished role as the reason why. While he is "not necessarily asking for a trade," the 28-year-old is talking about the possibility with his agent, per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic.
Let's call a spade and a spade. Breece Hall is the superior runner and, now that he's back to full health, the Jets will (correctly) continue to lean on Hall. Cook offers physicality and experience in a change-of-pace role, but his days as a workhorse No. 1 RB are over whether he wants to admit it or not.
That said, he can probably find a bigger role somewhere else. Cook received three carries in New York's Week 6 victory over Philadelphia. The offense has shifted away from him to a significant degree, but there ought to be teams in the NFL who appreciate Cook's résumé and his recent track record of success as "the guy" in Minnesota.
Here are a few potential saviors for the disgruntled halfback ahead of Tuesday's deadline.
3. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are reportedly in the market for RB help. That's a bit strange at first blush — Raheem Mostert has been the league's best RB to date, and his primary challenger was De'Von Achane before the rookie suffered an ill-timed knee injury.
Still, from a pure system standpoint, it's hard to imagine a better setup for Cook. The Dolphins are clearly willing to feed several mouths and it feels like everybody in Mike McDaniel's offense is shining right now. If Cook wants to jack up his YPC number, Miami feels like the best place to get the most out of every touch.
It would take Cook time to adjust to the meticulous timing and execution inherent to McDaniel's offense, but he's a smart and accomplished RB who could thrive in a No. 2 role until Achane returns. Heck, until this season, Mostert was never considered remotely close to Cook on the competence scale. Maybe a change of scenery and more touches actually drives up Cook's efficiency, as the veteran contests.
At worst, this is a much better chance for Cook to compete for a championship. The Jets hope for Aaron Rodgers to miraculously return before season's end, but it's clear New York is not reaching the mountaintop in 2024. The Dolphins, on the other hand, have the potent offense necessary to reach the promised land. Especially with Jalen Ramsey's return on defense looming.
2. Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are another team in the market for a RB, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Gus Edwards has performed adequately in the No. 1 spot, but he's far from the most explosive or accomplished option at the position.
Both Edwards (4.0) and second option Justice Hill (4.8) average more yards per carry than Cook, but it's difficult to ignore Cook's track record. He was unequivocally one of the best runners in the NFL for four years. He made a Pro Bowl and rushed for 1,173 yards last season. It's not unreasonable to look at his diminished role in New York, combined with the general malaise of that offense, and think a change of scenery could make all the difference.
Cook would give the Ravens a more experienced option to split carries with Edwards. Baltimore has fared well in the red zone this season, but Cook is a particularly physical runner who typically thrives at the goal line. He's a real potential boon for the offense, whether it's situationally or as the new No. 1.
Lamar Jackson has called for more help at WR — and maybe the Ravens should prioritize that position over RB — but even Jackson needs a reliable run game outside his improvisational scurries. Cook gets the chance to carve out a more consistent role here, while also moving to a contender with the inside track to winning their division.
1. Los Angeles Rams
With Cam Akers gone and Kyren Williams on IR after an ankle injury in Week 6, the Los Angeles Rams' backfield boils down to a ragtag group of Darrell Henderson, Royce Freeman, and Myles Gaskin. The timeshare between Henderson and Freeman was fairly successful last week, but it wouldn't be shocking for the Rams to seek an upgrade.
One has to believe Cook still has enough left in the tank to make a material impact on the Rams' struggling offense. There's still firepower there — Matthew Stafford's connection with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua is infallible and Sean McVay is one of the league's brightest offensive minds — and Los Angeles isn't terribly far removed from Super Bowl contention.
Of course, age and money problems have led the Rams astray. At 3-4, the Rams are running out of time to salvage the campaign. It may be time to bite the bullet and rebuild after years of expensive, high-profile trades and an unwavering commitment to winning. The Rams are fresh off a miserable 5-12 season and the future appears bleak. On the other hand, it could behoove Los Angeles to at least feign competitiveness to keep McVay invested for the long haul.
Cook shouldn't cost much and he can certainly help the offense. He hasn't found much room to run behind the Jets' shoddy offensive line, but Los Angeles' balanced passing attack figures to beneficially complement Cook's power running on early downs. Henderson and Freeman both have incredibly small sample sizes this season — essentially one game each of real work — but neither profiles as meaningfully better than Cook. Not yet, at least.
