Dalvin Cook is ‘taking calls’, says he’s still ‘got it all’ despite not securing a deal in free agency

It be déjà vu all over all yet again for Dalvin Cook. Honest like ideal yr, the offseason is in rotund swing and the running relieve does no longer yet maintain a crew. The 28-yr-broken-down has no longer stated he’ll retire, though that day undoubtedly appears to be inching closer.

In August of 2023, Cook signed with the Fresh York Jets, acting in 15 games for the crew, but beginning excellent one. The Jets and Cook parted programs in January and after going unclaimed on waivers, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Of their Divisional Round playoff sport, he had eight carries for 23 yards. 

He went from beginning 17 games in 2022 with the Minnesota Vikings, the crew he has spent most of his profession with, to the one open with the Jets. The dropoff became in segment attributable to Fresh York’s beginning running relieve Breece Corridor taking quite rather a lot of the snaps and additionally attributable to what the crew felt they might most likely also merely get out of the weak.

Despite those doubting his skills going forward, Cook maintains that he still has extra in the tank. He turned his lack of playing time in 2023 as a undeniable, asserting that makes him mighty extra intriguing to head in 2024.

“I’ve got all of it,” Cook stated (by KPRC). “The tools are still here. I didn’t if fact be told get no reps ideal yr. So, the legs are unique, so the resume speaks for itself. I’m still Dalvin Cook. I’m still that guy. For me, I design no longer relish to toot my have horn. I excellent prefer to head accessible, build my helmet on and line up on the grass.”

Cook says he has been “taking calls” and like ideal yr, is ready for somebody to present him that next alternative.

“Honest if fact be told focusing on myself,” Cook stated on his present house. “Getting intriguing for coaching camp, getting intriguing for what’s coming up next. For me, like you stated, patience is the important. Factual now the most spellbinding part I’m if fact be told focusing on is getting myself in tip-high shape to essentially tote the rock reach the autumn.”

He completed ideal yr with profession lows in rushes (67), dashing yards (214), dashing yards-per-raise (3.2), touchdowns (0), receiving yards (78) and share of offensive snaps (21 percent).

His manufacturing, or lack thereof, ideal season does no longer encourage his case when taking a see a unusual crew, but he does maintain a history of being dominant with Minnesota. He had four consecutive seasons of over 1,000 dashing yards from 2019 to 2022.

Cook is viewing ideal yr as a “studying curve,” noting that “patience is the important.” 

“… so let’s excellent preserve intriguing and preserve confident, it be going to explode,” he added. 

With the draft and free agency frenzy in the relieve of us, groups are beginning to take shape and can merely most likely wait to see how their offenses purchase sooner than determining whether or no longer they have to add one other running relieve. If and when a deal comes, Cook says he’ll be intriguing. 

“Yeah, you repeatedly have to be intriguing for the choice,” Cook stated. “For me, I’m a weak in the league. I know what it takes to be a hit in this league. I know who Dalvin Cook is and I know the way I are seeking to construct and what I are seeking to design. Such as you stated, preserve intriguing so you ain’t got to get intriguing.”

Many free agent running backs maintain already stumbled on a unusual home this offseason, along with Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers), Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens), Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans), D’Andre Swift (Chicago Bears) and Austin Ekeler (Washington Commanders). 

There have to no longer many alternatives at running relieve left in free agency. Melvin Gordon, Kareem Hunt, Brandon Bolden and Jerick McKinnon are amongst those running backs which can most likely well be still ready for his or her touchdown build.