Dalvin Cook is a good running back. Let’s make sure we get that out of the way first. I fully believe that his skill set is an upgrade in the running back room. He is an above average running back in today’s NFL and now he is reportedly signing a one year, $8.6 million deal to run for the Jets.

Now that’s out of the way let’s get to the heart of the matter. This is a bad signing for the New York Jets.  

Dalvin Cook is a luxury signing for the Jets. This is not a position of need. The Jets have a decent running back room before Dalvin Cook steps in the building. Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight are decent depth players. Isreal Abanikanda has looked really good in his preseason action.

The question for the Jets running backs surrounds Breece Hall. Nobody is denying his production in his limited action last season. He might have even been on his way to winning the offensive rookie of the year award that later went to his teammate Garrett Wilson.

After ACL surgery in October, the question of Hall’s readiness for the 2023 season is the main question plaguing the Jets running back room. As he returns to practice this week for the first time since his injury, the Jets will get a better sense of what to expect from the 22-year-old this season.

If the worst-case scenario happens and Hall is not able to contribute much this season or simply not effective yet, the Jets have at least some depth and upside to hold the line. If Breece is able to go as well as he did last season, then they have two running backs who feel like they should be workhorses.

In other words, the Cook signing is simply a depth signing and you don’t pay $8.6 million for a depth player at a position that isn’t a need or a premium spot. The move makes no sense.

The best teams in the league the last few seasons have been the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. You know what none of them spend money on? The running back spot.

The Eagles were happy to let Miles Sanders walk in free agency and bring in another player on a rookie deal in D’Andre Swift. The Bills and Chiefs bring in rookies or low-cost players and let them fight for rushing attempts. The Bengals were ready to cut Joe Mixon if he didn’t take a pay cut to stay in Cincinnati.

If the Jets want to compete with these teams, spending at the running back position is not going to get it done. Running backs can be unhappy all the want about the market but the fact is that is the business.

To go along with that, you can’t convince me that Cook really wants to be with the Jets. He did everything but come out and say it that he wants to sign with the Miami Dolphins. The only thing Cook wanted more than playing in Miami was the money. And the Jets were stupidly willing to oblige.

Say what you want about Aaron Rodgers, that guy has made it crystal clear from the jump that he wanted to be with the Jets. Cook made it clear that he wanted the money (not that there’s anything wrong with getting the money while you can).

The Jets should have looked for cheaper options at the running back position for this year if they felt they needed more depth and looked to spend that money in other areas of need.

The Jets are hopeful that Hall can return to form and that Cook will be happy with his role as backup in that case. I for one, don’t see that happening.

Jets should pivot from Dalvin Cook and sign Ezekiel Elliott

As the days tick by and it becomes more and more apparent that free agent running back formally with Minnesota Vikings, Dalvin Cook was only using the Jets to get a bigger offer from the Miami Dolphins, his true desired destination, it’s time for the Jets and GM Joe Douglas to play the game right […]

Featured image via Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports