The Minnesota Vikings surprised a lot of people when they opted to release running back Dalvin Cook earlier this offseason. That is a prime example of how the position has been devalued in recent years as Dalvin Cook remains one of the best running backs in the NFL.

The Vikings were in a tough spot financially, as they also released long-time wide receiver Adam Thielen to save some money. Minnesota’s offense is going to look a lot different in 2023 without two franchise icons of the recent era no longer in the lineup.

Some people believe the Vikings did make the right decision moving on from the veteran running back. He surpassed the 1,500-touch mark last season, which is when some players at the position have begun showing a sharp decline in their performance.

Will Dalvin Cook be able to avoid that same fate? Based on his production last season, it would seem that the Florida State product has some juice left to offer a team. Last season, Dalvin Cook carried the ball 264 times for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns, adding 39 receptions for 295 yards and two more scores.

That was enough to earn his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, as he is one of the best players in the NFL at his position. When taking a deeper dive into the stats, it is clear that he can still produce at a high level.

According to Nick Penticoff, the star running back proved tough to still take down in 2022. He had 885 rushing yards after contact, which placed him fourth in the NFL, regularly running with power and elusiveness.

The ability to make people miss and pick up the tough yardage is a sign of Dalvin Cook still being able to provide a team with excellent value out of the backfield. While he remains unsigned right now, it shouldn’t be too much longer until he has a new team to play with.

A homecoming with the Miami Dolphins is certainly possible, while the New York Jets have also been mentioned as a landing spot. The good thing about both teams is that Cook wouldn’t have to solely carry the load in the backfield. 

Both teams are loaded with useful depth pieces that could help keep the six-year veteran healthy throughout the regular season. 2022 was the first time in Dalvin Cook’s career that he appeared in every game, a streak he would love to extend to two.