The San Francisco 49ers may seek assistance at the running back position in light of Christian McCaffrey’s absence until at least the NFC Divisional Round.
In Week 18, Dalvin Cook, who was recently released by the New York Jets, could be a potential solution to their needs and provide additional depth for the playoffs. The Jets decided to waive the talented running back, who has been selected to four Pro Bowls and rushed for over 1,000 yards four times in his career. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cook and the Jets agreed to part ways in order to find a playoff team. Despite being a longtime member of the Minnesota Vikings, Cook had limited opportunities to play in New York, accumulating 214 yards on 67 carries.
Cook’s time in Minnesota has been defined by his impressive performances, starting from his rookie season which sadly ended prematurely due to injury. In just four games, Cook managed to accumulate 354 yards and two touchdowns on 74 carries. However, this setback did not deter him, as he continued to thrive in the subsequent seasons, consistently reaching impressive numbers of 1,127.8 yards and nine touchdowns per season. Even in 2022, Cook’s impact on the Vikings remained significant, highlighted by remarkable runs of 81, 53, 40, and 30 yards.
Despite the abundance of playmakers in San Francisco, the team could benefit from adding another one. One reason why New York didn’t utilize Cook much was due to the strong performance of running back Breece Hall, who achieved 816 rushing yards and four touchdowns in the first 16 games. The 49ers’ salary cap situation won’t be affected by signing Cook, as they have $38 million in cap space. Cook willingly gave up his remaining guarantees from his previous one-year, $7 million contract with the Jets.
Cook had a successful year in 2022, gaining 1,173 yards and scoring eight touchdowns on 264 carries, averaging 4.4 yards per attempt. However, Minnesota let him go due to financial constraints despite his five-year, $63 million contract. In August 2022, Cook joined the Jets with the hope of playing alongside quarterback Aaron Rodgers and competing for a Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury in Week 1, leading to a decline in the Jets’ performance and a disappointing end to their season.
It’s frustrating for any man who has demonstrated productivity in the league,” Cook expressed in December 2023 according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “The desire to be productive remains strong.
Cook may discover his late-season momentum with the 49ers, who boast impressive statistics of 29.4 points and 141.5 rushing yards per game. Additionally, he could provide valuable assistance to the 49ers’ backfield, which experiences a notable decline in performance after McCaffrey.
Elijah Mitchell is the second-most effective running back on the team, accumulating 61 carries for 229 yards and a touchdown in 10 games. Jordan Mason has also had successful moments, with 34 carries for 170 yards and three touchdowns. However, the 49ers only utilize him in 7% of their offensive plays.
Acquiring Cook would provide the San Francisco team with an additional reliable receiver for quarterback Brock Purdy in the playoffs. In his last five seasons with the Vikings, Cook maintained an average of 42 receptions for 340.8 yards and a touchdown. However, the Jets did not experience the same level of success with Cook, as he only caught 15 passes for 78 yards. Additionally, the Jets faced challenges due to a rotating quarterback situation following Rodgers’ injury.
Purdy has frequently employed McCaffrey in the passing game, resulting in 67 receptions for 564 yards and seven touchdowns, which places him fourth among 49ers receivers this year, trailing behind Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel.
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