Jets Sign Dalvin Cook to ‘Biggest’ Free Agent RB Contract of 2023: Insider

The New York Jets just pushed all of their chips into the middle of the table.

Gang Green signed free agent running back Dalvin Cook on Monday, August 14, according to multiple reports. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero said it is a one-year deal that has a maximum value of $8.6 million, “with the majority guaranteed.”

According to Pelissero, this is the “biggest deal” signed by a free agent running back this offseason.

Spotrac puts the average annual value (AAV) of Cook’s contract at $7 million, which edges out the deals signed by Miles Sanders of the Carolina Panthers ($6.25 million AAV), David Montgomery of the Detroit Lions ($6 million) and Ezekiel Elliott of the New England Patriots ($6 million).

Over the course of his six-year NFL career, Cook has gained over 7,787 yards from scrimmage and has scored 52 total touchdowns.

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Dalvin Cook Lands in New York After Weeks of Flirtation

Cook’s agent, Zac Hiller of LAA, told me that the negotiations between Cook and the team have been a “process.” Cook first visited the team on July 30 after saying on NFL Network that the Jets “are right at the top of the list.”

Now that he’s a Jet, he’ll have nearly four weeks to prepare for New York’s season opener, September 11 against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. But, Hiller told me that Cook should be facing a smooth learning curve because he “already knows all the plays from Gary Kubiak.” Jets head coach Robert Saleh was on Kubiak’s Houston Texans staff for four years (2006-2010), and Cook earned the first two of his four Pro Bowl appearances playing under Kubiak when he was assistant head coach on the Minnesota Vikings in 2019 and 2020.

The presence of Cook will alleviate the pressure placed on the Jets’ No. 1 back, Breece Hall, who was to be activated from the PUP list on August 15, according to The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt.

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Cook Has ‘Plenty Left in the Tank’ for the Jets: Report

Cook, who turned 28 on August 10, is coming off four straight seasons of rushing for at 1,000 yards and, according to Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports, “does have plenty left in tank.”

When Hall is fully healthy, the Jets will possess one of the league’s best 1-2 punches at running back. According to Fox Sports, the Jets “should have a stop-gap solution for the first half of the season as the team brings Hall back up to speed.”

And having both players on the roster should help extend their shelf lives throughout the season. Still, Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna noted in his August 15 story that “there is reason for some hesitation, however, about both running backs.” With Hall, it’s injury and with Cook, it’s with performance.

“In the past two seasons, his PFF grades have been his two lowest,” McKenna wrote. “He is showing slight signs of decline, but not much. … So there are uncertainties, which is likely why it took so long for Cook to find a home.”

If the Jets don’t live up to their potential in 2023, it certainly won’t be because of a lack of weapons.

Rosenblatt, of The Athletic, listed the top options for the Jets at running back, wide receiver and tight end.

Rosenblatt said with the Cook addition the Jets have “the pieces in place for a high scoring offense.”

Cook was released by the Minnesota Vikings on June 9 it what was described to me as a “cost cutting maneuver.”

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