Former Pro Bowler and current free-agent RB Dalvin Cook seems to be confident declaring, "I'm still that guy," despite a recent downturn in his performance. After four consecutive seasons of surpassing 1,000 rushing yards, Cook found himself marginalized last season, and it appears this trend is persisting into the offseason.
Despite these setbacks, Cook's self-assurance is unwavering. "I've got it all," he saidduring a recent workout. "The tools are still here. I didn't really get no reps last year. The legs are fresh, the resume speaks for itself. I'm still Dalvin Cook. I'm still that guy. For me, I don't like to toot my own horn. I just like to go up there and put my helmet on and line up on the grass."
Selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, Dalvin Cook boasts a statline of 6,207 rushing yards and 47 touchdowns, accompanied by 1,872 receiving yards and five touchdowns. However, his contributions reduced last season, with only 292 yards gained during his tenure with the Jets. Nevertheless, Cook remains determined to prove himself once again in the upcoming season.
When he signed with the Jets, much like several others during that summer, was seen as a signal that New York was gearing up for a Super Bowl run.
However, those plans went down the drain when quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending torn Achilles just four snaps into the season. With backup Zach Wilson struggling to lead the offense effectively, and Cook receiving limited opportunities to support Breece Hall, who was recovering from injury, he found himself playing a minor role with just 4.4 carries per game across 15 matches.
Following Week 17, the Jets and Cook reached a mutual decision to part ways. Cook then joined the AFC's top-seeded Ravens, where he made a solitary postseason appearance, rushing eight times for 23 yards.
Even if he is "that guy," it's becoming more apparent that he may not be the go-to option for an NFL offense in 2024. This is due to the fact that the market has already found new homes for veteran peers like Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones, Austin Ekeler, and Tony Pollard.
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