The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rushing issues do not appear to be resolved with Rachaad White and Bucky Irving as a one-two punch.
Signing free agent and four-time Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook might provide a needed boost to the backfield. Matt Holder of Bleacher Report believes the Buccaneers need to get a short-yardage running back.
“Rachaad White had a good season last fall but isn’t great at creating yards after contact,” Holder stated. “The Buccaneers used a fourth-round pick on Bucky Irving, but Irving’s sub-200-pound frame suggests he will struggle in short-yardage situations at the next level.” So, adding a bruiser to the backfield would be a sensible investment for Tampa Bay.
Cook meets the bill, with a career average of 4.6 yards per carry. Cook, a four-time 1,000-yard rusher, may still make a difference at the age of 28, despite the fact that his peak years are likely behind him.
Buccaneers Could Find a Steal in Dalvin Cook
Cook last lit up the Minnesota Vikings offense with 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns in 2022, before signing with the New York Jets. Things didn’t go well with the Jets, as he only had 67 carries for 214 yards while being injured and playing backup to starter back Breece Hall.
Cook averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per rush last season, but he had never been below 4.4 yards per attempt prior to that. Minnesota’s offensive line has placed higher than the Jets in the Pro Football Focus rankings for the past two years.
The Vikings parted ways with Cook in 2023 due to contract size and salary cap issues. Cook had a five-year, $63 million contract with the Vikings, and the Jets signed him to a one-year, $7 million contract.
Following several career lows, a team like the Buccaneers may sign Cook for a small contract this year. The Buccaneers have $8.68 million in salary cap room to work with.
Dalvin Cook: ‘Tools Are Still Here’
Despite the recent dip, Cook believes he can relive his glory days.
“I’ve got it all,” Cook told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 in April. “The tools are still around. I didn’t really get any reps last year. So the legs are fresh, and the résumé speaks for itself. I am still Dalvin Cook. I am still that guy. I dislike bragging about myself. I just enjoy going out there, putting on my helmet, and lining up on the grass.”
Cook hasn’t let not getting signed bother him either.
“Yeah, you always have to be prepared for the opportunity,” Cook replied. “I’m a veteran in the league. I understand what it takes to succeed in this league. I know who Dalvin Cook is, and I know how I want to perform and what I want to accomplish. As you mentioned, remain prepared so you don’t have to get ready.”
Cook had a particularly tight turnaround for the 2023 season because he did not sign with the Jets until August 2023. The Jets already had Hall returning from an ACL tear. Cook was released by the Jets and joined the Baltimore Ravens in time for the postseason, but he played minimally.
“I think last year was really like a learning curve for me,” Cook stated. “I got itchy. At the moment, it was coming. The season. It was where I wanted to go, and now it is about the opportunities that will arise.
“What are you going to do with it? For me, patience is crucial, so let’s just be prepared and confident that it’s going to explode,” Cook said.
