With one week to go in the 2023 NFL regular season, there is still work to be done. The New York Jets waived Dalvin Cook on just the second day of 2024. He cleared Waivers on the fourth and was able to sign with a contender.
The contender that signed him is the top seed in the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens. Why did they sign him?
Why Is Dalvin Cook Joining the Ravens?
Heading into Week 18, the Ravens had clinched the AFC’s top seed, meaning they would be able to rest their starters and prepare for the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Despite their success, the Ravens have had some movement at running back all season. It started early with starter J.K. Dobbins going down with a torn Achilles in Week 1. The injury ended his season and marked the first of two major injuries their running back room would suffer.
The second major injury came much later, with rookie breakout star Keaton Mitchell suffering a significant knee injury in the team’s Sunday Night Football victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15. Mitchell, an undrafted free agent, had 47 carries for 396 yards and two touchdowns in eight games.
The injuries left the Ravens with Gus Edwards as their lead back all season, with Justice Hill providing significant help. Edwards has received 188 carries for 762 yards and 13 touchdowns, with most of the touchdowns coming inside five yards. Hill, on the other hand, has had 84 carries for 387 yards and three touchdowns.
Cook will likely slot in as the Ravens’ third running back, a similar role he was receiving in New York. Cook signed with the Jets back in August and has since received six carries for 214 yards and no touchdowns.
Cook spent most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, where he spent six seasons after being taken in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.
MORE: Baltimore Ravens Depth Chart
In his career, he has 1,349 carries for 6,207 yards and 47 touchdowns. He also has 236 receptions for 1,872 yards and five scores.
Cook isn’t the first running back the Ravens have signed late in their career. In the past, they have also signed Devonta Freeman, Le’Veon Bell, Latavius Murray, Melvin Gordon, and Kenyan Drake. Freeman, Bell, Murray, and Gordon just spent one season in Baltimore, with Drake spending two seasons with the team.
Four-time Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook will sign for the playoffs with the Baltimore Ravens; per his agency @LAASportsEnt
The Jets paid Cook $6.8 million this season and now he will get a chance to pursue a Super Bowl appearance with the Ravens. pic.twitter.com/U5oeNgYiDd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 4, 2024
Cook’s one-year, $7 million contract with the Jets included $5.8 million guaranteed. Since he cleared waivers, his new contract with the Ravens will likely be worth the league minimum and leave him as a free agent following the season. The minimum salary for veterans of 7+ seasons, like Cook, is $1.65 million.
The Ravens will finish the regular season by hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday afternoon. The Steelers sit at 9-7 and must win to get into the playoffs.
Cook will not play, but he is expected to be ready for the team in a little more than two weeks.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!