Should Cowboys Claim Dalvin? The ‘Easy $388,888 Move’
A cook may come up with the Dallas Cowboys’ ideal Super Bowl meal. The New York Jets’ mutual release of Dalvin Cook on Tuesday added an intriguing new twist to the NFL’s free agency landscape.
Cook, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, was one of the Jets’ high-profile additions to support Aaron Rodgers at quarterback this season, but he was unable to recapture the explosiveness that helped him win four Pro Bowls.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy publicly addressed the prospect of Dallas chasing Cook on Wednesday, stating the team was “visiting” the subject.
And on Thursday, Cook is going through waivers. Maybe he’ll clear, freeing him to sign with a contender. Or maybe … at a bargain price of $388,000,
Despite the struggles in New York (214 yards on 67 carries), Cook’s resume and skillsets could make him an intriguing addition to a playoff team looking to make noise on the postseason bracket. And adding to the intrigue?
While he has a one-year deal in New York worth $7 million, at this point in the year he’s only due one more paycheck … totalling $388,888. That’s pretty low-risk for Dallas … or any other contender who wants a cheap look at a once-standout player.
Tony Pollard is a running back for the Cowboys in the post-Ezekiel Elliott era, but his average of 4.0 yards per carry is a career low. Rico Dowdle has received more snaps recently, but despite the national media’s discussion of his “bang up,” CowboysSI.com revealed on Wednesday that Dowdle is gradually returning to action and practicing despite his ankle problem. Once more, a national media goof:
It’s being written that “the Cowboys have been known to hunt for big names under Jerry Jones, so an opportunity to add Cook on the cheap may interest the Cowboys enough to pull the trigger.” That is a myth, dispelled just this week. Dallas is signing La’el Collins and Damian Harris. That’s not exactly “Charles Haley and Deion Sanders,” the sort of 1990’s acquisitions that helped create this bogus idea.
There is no big money there. There are no “big names” there. They are functional backup candidates who will start on the practice squad. A year ago, the Cowboys brought Cook’s fellow four-time Pro Bowler T.Y. Hilton aboard in an attempt to shore up their receiving depth beyond CeeDee Lamb.
The former Indianapolis Colt wound up earning 159 yards on 10 receptions over five games, including two postseason appearances. Hilton, though, at that point in his career was hardly a “star.” Is Cook a “star”? Adding Cook to the fold could take some pressure off Dak Prescott: while Prescott continues to linger on the fringes of the MVP discussion, there’s no denying that Dallas dips when he’s overworked.
In Prescott’s nine-year tenure as the franchise quarterback, the Cowboys are 8-16 when he throws more than 40 times a game, including 1-2 this season.
Further support to the Cook cause was added on Wednesday when Dallas placed depth piece Deuce Vaughn on injured reserve. Dowdle, who has been dealing with an ankle injury, is the only other rusher beyond Pollard on the active roster while Malik Davis lingers on the practice squad.
The waiver claim order goes from worst-to-best team. It is our belief that the order right now would go … 29. Miami Dolphins (11-5) 30. Dallas Cowboys (11-5) 31. San Francisco 49ers (12-4) 32. Baltimore Ravens (13-3) Is there a reason to think the Niners would want him? We don’t know. But his hometown Dolphins were interested last summer. And the Ravens are rumored to be interested now.
And this skips over teams picking higher, like the Chiefs and the Bills and others.
In this case, a claiming team does not get to work out Cook (unlike if he clears waivers). Take him, you own him. However, at $388,888? In the event that he runs out of gas? Slice him.
Nothing is lost on you. When the Dallas (11-5) club plays the Washington Commanders in their regular season finale on Sunday afternoon (3:25 p.m. CT, Fox), they will have one more opportunity to establish some ground rules. But, while the team concentrates on that, the front staff has cause to “visit” the possibility of Cook. Not because he’s a “star,” though. Instead, it’s because he may be added to this week’s roster of “functional backups.” and the possibility that it may only cost $388,888.
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