Is Dalvin Cook a Free Agent? Which Teams would be the Best Fit for Cook? Fantasy Football Outlook

Veteran running back Dalvin Cook has been a high-upside weapon for the Minnesota Vikings since being selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The former Florida State RB has made four straight Pro Bowls and has been one of the premier do-it-all backs in the NFL.

However, he's been rumored to be a trade or cut candidate all offseason thanks to his price tag, and finally, we have an update on the situation.

Did the Vikings release Cook? Which teams could be interested in signing the 27-year-old back? Let's dive in.

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Is Dalvin Cook A Free Agent?

The Vikings and star running back Dalvin Cook are parting ways, despite him rushing for over 1,100 yards in 2022. The Vikings/Cook split was rumored for much of the offseason with Minnesota initially trying to find a trade partner for the four-time Pro Bowler. Instead, they will cut him loose, leaving Cook free to sign with a team of his choosing.

Cook is expected to draw plenty of interest from other teams now that he is a free agent and won't cost a draft pick to bring into the fold. Cook's release leaves the Vikings with Alexander Mattison as their lead back. Ty Chandler, DeWayne McBride, and Kene Nwangwu will likely compete for the RB2 role.

Which Teams Would be the Best Fit For Cook?

According to SportsLine Fantasy, the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Dallas Cowboys are the early favorites to land Cook now that he's officially a free agent.

Cook was nearly traded to the Dolphins in March, according to Albert Breer, but the team fell just short of completing the trade and drafted Texas A&M running back De'Von Achane in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft a month later. The Dolphins could still be interested in Cook, but there's a chance they're content with the running back room after adding Achane.

The Jets would make sense given Breece Hall's return from an ACL tear. The team will likely limit his workload early in the season, and the Jets are in full-fledged win-now mode with a 40-year-old quarterback in Aaron Rodgers under center. Cook could team up with his brother (James Cook) in Buffalo, but the running back room is crowded and he may not want to take away from his opportunities. Dallas has been rumored to bring back Ezekiel Elliott, but Cook is a better running back at this point in their careers, so he could form a nice one-two punch with Tony Pollard.

Ultimately, the possibilities are nearly endless since most teams utilize a committee approach, but those four teams are the most likely destination for Cook.

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