Former Vikings draft pick recruiting Dalvin Cook to his current team
By Adam Patrick
Former Minnesota Vikings tight end Tyler Conklin believes the New York Jets would have a "special backfield" if they signed Dalvin Cook.
In addition to the Miami Dolphins, the New York Jets are a team that has been connected to Dalvin Cook ever since the running back was released by the Minnesota Vikings earlier this month.
Cook still hasn't signed with a new team, but now, one of his former Minnesota teammates, tight end Tyler Conklin, is attempting to lure him to New York.
During an appearance on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football" on Monday, Conklin said the Jets have "plenty of room" on their roster for Cook and that the former Vikings running back signing with New York would give them a "special backfield" next season.
Will the New York Jets sign former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook
With a little more than $23 million in current cap space, the Jets shouldn't have any trouble affording Cook if he's interested in signing with them. Depending on how badly they want him on their roster, New York could even fulfill the veteran running back's desire to make close to what he was going to earn with the Vikings next season (around $10 million).
Cook recently mentioned that he wants to return to playing in an offense that utilizes an outside zone running scheme, which just so happens to be what the Jets are expected to use in 2023 under new offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
With Breece Hall and Michael Carter already on the roster, New York probably won't want to give Cook the true three-down running back role that he would like to have next season. But he's really going to struggle to find that anywhere in the NFL unless a top running back suffers a significant injury this summer.
The Jets have a lot of what Cook is looking for in his next team, and they're clearly attempting to win a Super Bowl sooner than later after they made a blockbuster trade with the Green Bay Packers to acquire quarterback Aaron Rodgers earlier this year.
While the Dolphins remain the frontrunner to land Cook in the eyes of many people, New York might actually be the better fit for the former Minnesota running back.