NFL Rumors: Cowboys considering 4x Pro Bowler as RB insurance
Is it even a regular day if the Dallas Cowboys aren't in the news? There's certainly a lot of meat on the bone when it comes to the Cowboys and their prep for 2024.
Having lost Tony Pollard to a big-money contract in free agency, the Cowboys chose to turn to a familiar face in Ezekiel Elliott, who rushed for 642 yards in 17 games for the New England Patriots last season.
At present, the Cowboys are reliant on Rico Dowdle and Elliott while Royce Freeman is also on the RB depth chart. Sophomore Deuce Vaughn makes it four RBs on the roster right now but the Cowboys are considering more options.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that Dallas has two names on what is a seemingly short list of RB options. One of those is former Minnesota Vikings star Dalvin Cook.
Fowler wrote:
"They will monitor the Ezekiel Elliott-Rico Dowdle-Royce Freeman experience, while keeping a short list of external options, just in case. Carolina's Miles Sanders is on that list. And Dalvin Cook has shown interest in playing for Dallas. As it stands, Elliott is slated as the starter, but the Cowboys will manage his snaps."
Dalvin Cook's 2023 stats in the spotlight
After a high-profile move to Aaron Rodgers' New York Jets to share the workload with Breece Hall, Cook's season went downhill pretty quickly. The four-time Pro Bowler registered career lows in rushing attempts (67) and rushing yards (214).
The Jets didn't really utilize Cook's talents and let him go in free agency. Cook found no takers despite a fair bit of movement in the running back market. Both Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley made high-profile switches themselves, prompting somewhat of a merry-go-round.
Henry's departure meant the Titans turned their sights towards Tony Pollard, who left the Cowboys and signed a three-year, $24 million deal with the franchise.
Cook, though, is still a free agent.
Despite a late-season move to the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year, $7 million deal, Cook did not make a regular-season appearance with the franchise, registering 23 yards on eight carries in one playoff appearance against the Houston Texans.