Giants, S Xavier McKinney Have Not Commenced Extension Talks
The Giants are not believed to have initiated extension talks with safety Xavier McKinney, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic (subscription required). McKinney, a 2020 second-rounder, has accrued three years of service time and is therefore eligible for an extension. If he and the team do not come to terms on a new deal prior to the 2024 league year, he will become an unrestricted free agent (barring the application of the franchise tag).
In his first year as New York’s general manager in 2022, GM Joe Schoen discussed extensions with impending free agents like Saquon Barkley and Julian Love during the bye week. Neither of those negotiations culminated in a new contract, and Barkley was ultimately hit with the franchise tag while Love defected to the Seahawks in free agency. Still, it could be that Schoen prefers to wait until this year’s bye (Week 13) to begin laying the foundation for a second contract for McKinney.
McKinney may also prefer to wait until later in the 2023 season, or even until the end of the season, to engage in talks. In 2022, the Alabama product suffered a broken hand during a midseason ATV accident, and he played in just nine regular season games as a result. His surface-level production naturally dropped as a result of the missed time — for instance, he recorded five interceptions in 2021 versus just one in 2022 — but the underlying metrics also suggested that he took a step back. After earning a strong 75.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus in 2021 (which included an even better 78.4 coverage score), McKinney was assigned a subpar 57.8 mark in 2022. He also yielded a 93.6 QB rating on passes thrown in his direction last year, which was up significantly from the 72.2 rating he allowed the year before.
As such, his leverage is relatively low at this point, and he may want to take some time to reestablish his value. On the other hand, Duggan suggests that the soon-to-be 24-year-old, who has earned just under $6.5MM through his first three professional seasons and who is due a modest $1.8MM salary in 2023, may be inclined to sign a team-friendly deal in exchange for some financial security. It is unclear what type of payout McKinney will be seeking, though Duggan sees Jalen Thompson‘s three-year extension with the Cardinals — which is worth up to $40MM and which includes $24.5MM in guarantees — as a potential comp.
McKinney remains a key component of the Giants’ defense, and he will be joined by some combination of Nick McCloud, Bobby McCain, Jason Pinnock, and Dane Belton in the defensive backfield. Earlier this year, we learned that McKinney had retained super-agent David Mulugheta, who represents some of the highest-profile safeties in the game.
Extension Candidate: Justin Herbert
Now that the league’s most controversial quarterback extension discussion has come to an end, it’s time to move on to what may be the second-most controversial. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert has shown some impressive regular season success in Los Angeles, but without results in the postseason, does he deserve to earn what some of his colleagues are making?
The 2020 quarterback class recently became eligible to sign their second NFL contracts. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, in a slightly different situation with no fifth-year option due to being drafted in the second round, broke the mold before heading into the final year of his rookie contract, signing an extension that gave him the highest annual average contract value in the NFL, a record that would be broken weeks later by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The Packers decided to get ahead of the pack, as well, signing inexperienced quarterback Jordan Love to an extension of his four-year rookie deal that will keep him under contract through this season and the next. Aside from that, the remaining first-round quarterbacks from the 2020 NFL Draft are playing it patient. The Bengals and quarterback Joe Burrow seem to be in a bit of a holding pattern, watching Herbert and the Chargers. The Dolphins also seem to be sitting pat on a new deal for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Injury issues, namely frequent concussions, have Miami playing it slow, as Tagovailoa’s future appears uncertain to say the least.
That brings us to Herbert. The 2020 class’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, Herbert has been a statistical phenom in Los Angeles. Through his first three seasons, Herbert has passed for 14,089 yards, more than any other player in NFL history through their first three years. He followed up his ORoY campaign with a Pro Bowl sophomore season. He averages just over 31 passing touchdowns per year to just over 11 interceptions. Despite throwing for the fewest touchdowns of his career last season, he finally saw his team’s success result in a postseason appearance. That paradox serves as a microcosm of the biggest issue currently surrounding his legacy: what good are statistics if they don’t lead to team success?
With Herbert behind center, the Chargers are 25-24. They have floated just above .500 since he took his place atop the depth chart. In his lone postseason contest, the Chargers’ defense consistently put Herbert and the offense in positions to succeed, leading to a 27-0 lead over Jacksonville to begin the game. As the Jaguars mounted their comeback, though, Herbert and the offense struggled generate much scoring as the team only managed three second-half points. That loss ultimately puts his record as a starter at 25-25, including the postseason.
The blame doesn’t fall solely on Herbert’s shoulders, of course. A middling-to-subpar defense in the past three years has made Herbert’s job that much harder. Injuries to leading offensive players like running back Austin Ekeler and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams have put him in tough situations from time to time, as well. Still, quarterbacks like Jackson and Hurts have made winning without stats look easy, while Hurts and Burrow have found enough postseason success to each have a Super Bowl loss on their records. Herbert’s statistical success should well reward him and set him on track for a top contract, but his lack of winning success could lessen his price tag a bit.
Veteran general manager Tom Telesco has been here before with Philip Rivers. As a student of Bill Polian with the 2000’s Colts, Telesco had a front row seat to how Indianapolis paid Peyton Manning while still fielding a strong team around him. Seeing the success that that resulted in, Telesco will likely be aiming for a more team-friendly deal when trying to extend Herbert.
“At least in our situation, I don’t think I need to have that talk with our quarterback. I think he’s fully aware, has really good self-awareness on how much money he is going to make, how it affects the team,” Telesco said. “But like most agents will tell you, like, it’s my job to figure out how to make sure that the player gets the value that he deserves and we build a team around him.”
With that in mind, what might a deal for Herbert look like? This is a tough one. As the price tag for quarterbacks continues to climb, Herbert is expected to make over $50MM per year. The statistical success backs that assertion, and the development of the deals of Hurts and Jackson make that harder to deny. Yes, Mahomes and Allen aimed for longer deals (slightly for Allen, extremely for Mahomes), that take a bit of burden off the team, but those deals came in 2020 for Mahomes and 2021 for Allen. It’s hard to imagine that both of those deals would still be under $50MM per year in 2023.
If Herbert and Telesco are on the same page about a team-friendly deal, it’s going to be based off of length. Herbert may end up looking at a six- to eight-year deal. With the added years to the contract, he may agree to take a bit less than the five-year deals Hurts and Jackson signed. I could see an eight-year, $400MM deal with a $50MM AAV or maybe a six-year, $306MM deal with a $51MM AAV. If the team waits longer to make the deal, they not only risk further inflation to contract prices, they also risk Herbert driving up the price tag with some postseason success.
Telesco has his work cut out for him. The team clearly wants to commit to Herbert long-term. With seven players all set to make over $10MM next year, the team’s payroll is getting top-heavy. He’ll have to work some Colts-Manning magic in order to give Herbert the long-term deal he deserves while not totally handicapping the team’s ability to stack top-end talent around him.
QB Malik Willis Not Guaranteed To Make Titans Roster
Despite being selected in the third round of the 2022 draft, Malik Willis isn’t a lock to make the Titans roster. While Jim Wyatt of the team’s website believes the quarterback will ultimately make the squad, he cautions that the “roster spot isn’t guaranteed.”
The Titans drafted Willis as more of a long-term project instead of a definitive successor to Ryan Tannehill, but the Liberty product was thrown into the fire as a rookie. Willis ended up going 1-2 in his three starts, completing 50.8 percent of his passes for 276 and three interceptions. He also added 123 rushing yards and one touchdown on 27 attempts.
Tannehill struggled through injuries and saw a drop in production in 2022, but the Titans will bring him back for at least one more season in 2023. At one time, the organization likely envisioned Willis stepping into a full-time role for the 2024 campaign, but things quickly changed during this past year’s draft.
Will Levis fell out of the first round, and the Titans made a move to acquire the No. 33 pick and select the Kentucky quarterback. Levis is now the clear future at the position for the Titans, leaving Willis on the outside looking in. Coach Mike Vrabel previously labeled Willis as his QB2 and the rookie as QB3, but it now sounds like the second-year quarterback will be fighting for his roster spot.
Passing game coordinator Tim Kelly and quarterbacks coach Charles London reportedly are not sold on Willis, and even with the new rule that provides an extra roster spot for a third QB, Wyatt thinks the 24-year-old will have to earn his way on the team. On the flip side, Wyatt also thinks Willis looked better than Levis during minicamp, and the writer is more confident now than he was before that the team will ultimately carry all three quarterbacks.
Fortunately for the Titans, it doesn’t sound like Willis is distracted by his uncertain roster status.
“I don’t really get into all that,” Willis said (via NFL.com). “I just try to go to work every day. … It’s a results-based business. It doesn’t matter what I think, it doesn’t matter what you think, it just is. I am just focusing on what I can control.”
PFR Originals: Pack, Herbert, Tags, Dugger
Here’s a look at back at PFR’s most recent originals:
- The Offseason In Review series continued with a look at the Packers. Sam Robinson broke down the player movement which took place in Green Bay, highlighted by the franchise’s second consecutive decision to trade a future Hall of Fame quarterback to the Jets. How the Packers are able to transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love under center will play a crucial role in their ability to return to the postseason now and into the future.
- A few quarterback mega-deals have already been worked out this offseason, and another could soon be coming to Justin Herbert. Ely Allen broke down the Chargers pivot’s candidacy for a monster extension after three seasons in Los Angeles. That stretch has included an Offensive Rookie of the Year award, a Pro Bowl nod and a postseason appearance in successive years, though Herbert is generally viewed as being a notch below the likes of Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. As is the case with the latter, talks for a new deal will continue through the summer.
- Four players are currently set to play on the franchise tag, and they have until July 17 to work out a new contract. Sam detailed the situations of running backs Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard, along with tight end Evan Engram. The RB market has not been a fruitful one in 2023, so the Giants and Raiders have plenty of leverage during negotiations, which, should they not yield an agreement, will see their backs and Pollard earn $10.1MM. The latter has signed his one-year tender, but will any of the others do the same?
- The Patriots have a few interesting financial decisions to make with recent draftees, including Kyle Dugger. The safety may have played his way into a signficant raise, as detailed by Ben Levine. New England used a second-round pick on the Lenoir-Rhyne product in 2020, and it has yielded notable production over the past two years in particular. Dugger could become the first Patriot selected in the first or second round to land an extension in quite some time, though the team is not renowned for spending big on internal or external players when the time comes for large contract commitments.
- Five new head coaches are in place for the 2023 campaign, half the total from last year. Breaking down where the league’s skippers sit with respect to tenure, Sam looked back at the searches conducted by teams who moved in a new direction and some of the other top storylines which have circulated in recent months. Bill Belichick still tops the list of longest-running coaches in their current position, but the Patriots’ post-Tom Brady performances and his seemingly strained relationship with owner Robert Kraft have led to questions about how much longer he will remain in New England.
- Plenty of attention will be on the Raiders and Jacobs in advance of the franchise tag deadline, but contract disputes aren’t new for the two parties. In Ben’s latest contribution to the This Day In Transactions History Series, he recalled the tension which surrounded the issue of Jacobs’ signing bonus being paid out early. The first-rounder seemed a threat to hold out during training camp, but he ultimately inked his rookie deal. His play since doing so has put him in line for a step up in compensation, but plenty of progress will need to be made soon on current talks for that to take place.
- Following up on his breakdown of the league’s longest-tenured head coaches, Sam did the same with general managers. Only two new GMs – Ran Carthon and Monti Ossenfort – have been installed by the Titans and Cardinals, respectively, this offseason. The latter in particular has embarked on a rebuilding effort, while many others are in position to continue their Super Bowl pursuits. The recent extension given to Brandon Beane by the Bills will allow him to carry on with his work in that regard. Changes made at other levels of NFL front offices will no doubt lead to another intriguing hiring cycle in 2024.
- Most teams know roughly where they stand with respect to cap space heading into this season, but next year offers an interesting peak at the decisions which will need to be made. Ben examined how things currently shape up regarding 2024 cap space, a list which features the Texans and Bears in first and third, respectively. Both teams have plenty of young, cost-controlled assets in place and will be able to be major players on the open market when free agency begins. By that point, 11 teams will have needed to carve out space simply to be cap compliant, let along set themselves up for notable additions. A number of key moves will no doubt be informed by the financial circumstances teams know are around the corner.
Dalvin Cook Not Satisfied With Dolphins’ Offer?
All signs continue to point to a contract eventually being worked out between free agent Dalvin Cook and the Dolphins. For that to happen, though, the Pro Bowl back will need a more lucrative offer to be made. 
During an NFL Live appearance, ESPN’s Jeff Darlington reported that Cook is “not willing to accept” the contract which is currently on the table from the Dolphins (video link). News of the Miami offer came out more than one week ago, but it was noted at the time that other suitors would be in the running to land the 27-year-old. To little surprise, Cook has been expected to wait until at least training camp to decide on a new destination.
Darlington adds that mutual interest remains between Cook and the Dolphins, so a homecoming for the longtime Viking is still very much in the cards. Cook has made clear his openness to joining Miami, adding that he is eyeing a starter’s workload on whichever team he signs with. The Dolphins have a crowded backfield as is, but its members would seem to welcome the addition of Cook, an 1,100-yard rusher in each of the past four seasons.
As things stand, the top competition to land the Florida State alum Miami is set to face is from the division rival Jets and Patriots. Cook would give each AFC East team a considerable boost in the running game, and serious bids from two or more of them (along with any other suitors, of course) would benefit his earning power on a new deal. Financial terms will be a crucial element in Cook’s ongoing free agent process, one which looks set to continue for the foreseeable future.
Darlington confirms that nothing is imminent with respect to a decision from Cook, with training camps set to open later this month. Before that point, however, the franchise tag deadline will arrive, something which Darlington notes could be worth watching. Three running backs – Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard – will need to have a new contract in place before July 17 to avoid playing on the $10.1MM franchise tag. The value of any multi-year deals they sign before that date could boost Cook’s asking price despite the RB market yielding few notable contracts so far this offseason.
With a standing offer still in place, Cook obviously remains a target for the Dolphins. How willing they are to dip into their $13.6MM in cap space will be worth watching in the coming days, particularly if he finds leverage in negotiations through either a more widespread individual market or notable contracts for other backs.
Broncos Eyeing Altered Role For TE Greg Dulcich
Expectations are high for the Broncos offense heading into 2023, with head coach Sean Payton now at the helm. One of the key factors in the team’s ability to rebound from a highly disappointing performance on that side of the ball last season is the way in which Payton’s scheme will alter the workload of the unit’s main contributors. 
[RELATED: Reviewing Broncos’ Offseason]
One of those is tight end Greg Dulcich, who came to the Miles High City last season after a productive final two seasons at UCLA. The third-rounder flashed potential with 33 receptions for 411 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but his rookie campaign was limited to 10 games due to a nagging hamstring issue.
In 2023, Dulcich could see not only an expanded workload but also a new job description. The 23-year-old was recently named by Payton as a candidate to play the ‘joker’ role, as detailed by Troy Renck of Denver7. That moniker is one which involves heavy usage in the passing game for a position which, in Dulcich’s case, typically calls for considerable usage as a run blocker.
“The joker player for us is not a receiver,” Payton elaborated, via ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. “It’s either a running back or a tight end with exceptional ball skills and then you can work matchups. We’ve had that at the running back spot, Reggie Bush was the joker, Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara. Those were all unique players, not just in the running game, but they had passing game skill sets that allowed you to do multiple things, and I think Greg does too.”
Dulcich’s skillset is indeed built more on proficiency as a pass-catcher than strength in the run game, making him a logical candidate for the transition. Denver also has free agent signing Chris Manhertz, trade acquisition Adam Trautman and 2020 fourth-rounder Albert Okwuegbunam on the depth chart at the TE spot. That trio could be well-suited to provide the Broncos with capable play while attempting to maximize the potential Dulcich has as a Swiss Army knife type in Year 2. It will be interesting to watch how he is deployed in training camp and the preseason in advance of a campaign where the team will be under considerable scrutiny.
CB Isaiah Oliver’s Size Impacted Interest From 49ers
When attempting to replace slot cornerback K’Waun Williams this offseason, the 49ers decided to change their approach to the position a bit. While San Francisco has been home to some smaller nickelbacks in recent years (Williams was 5-foot-9, 180 pounds), the signing of former Falcons cornerback Isaiah Oliver represents a change of direction, according to David Lombardi of The Athletic. 
Oliver was a home run signing for the 49ers. After a torn ACL ended his 2021 season early, Oliver bounced back with the best season of his career, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Oliver began his career as a perimeter corner out of Colorado. He performed admirably in a rotation as a rookie, but once he took over as a starter, he struggled to maintain a high level of play.
The Falcons decided to try him out as a slot cornerback in 2021 to try and turn his play around, and it seemed to be working until his major injury. Last year, he finally got a chance to establish himself in the slot and rewarded Atlanta’s faith in him with a top-10 cornerback performance, according to PFF.
Not only are the 49ers getting a top-10 cornerback out of free agency, but they’re also getting an upgrade in terms of size. At 6 feet, 210 pounds, Oliver holds a huge advantage in height and strength over Williams. This upgrade is a designed move in San Francisco’s concerted efforts to keep up with evolving offenses.
According to Lombardi, “the average size of opposing inside receivers is increasing.” It used to be that small, quick cornerbacks were a must to keep up with short, shifty slot receivers. Bigger receivers and the continuing involvement of receiving tight ends necessitate the initiative to get bigger without losing short-area quickness. Luckily for San Francisco, Oliver provides just that: an increase in size as well as agility to work inside and close to the line of scrimmage.
These days in the NFL, a player in the slot is being asked to cover quite a large range of jobs. The 49ers feel confident in Oliver’s ability to get those jobs done in 2023.
Latest On Colts’ OL Situation
After years of dominant offensive line play, the last season of offensive line coach Chris Strausser‘s tenure saw an uncharacteristically down year for the team’s position group up front. With Strausser now coaching for rival Houston, the Colts are hoping that Tony Sparano can get the line back on track. 
After the spring, it appears that the team has no plans to switch up the starting lineup with which they ended the 2022 season, according to Mike Chappell of FOX 59. Left tackle Bernhard Raimann, left guard Quenton Nelson, center Ryan Kelly, right guard Will Fries, and right tackle Braden Smith all return to start in 2023.
After starting his career in an elite manner, Nelson’s play has dropped slightly in the past two years. He’s still a Pro Bowl talent who is in no danger of losing his starting job, but after an extension that would make him the league’s highest paid guard at the time became inevitable, he’s gone from a top-three guard in the NFL to top-20, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Fries, a seventh-round pick from 2021, was asked to step up as a starter for the second-half of last season. It took him a bit to find his footing, but he displayed a few strong performances to end the season, and he’ll start the year opposite Nelson.
At center, Kelly has shown flashes of talent that have made him a top-10 center in the past. He bounced back after a dismal 2021 season but still didn’t quite reach the top-form we saw from him just a few years ago. His job should continue to be safe as backups Wesley French and Dakoda Shepley have a combined zero starts.
On the outside ends of the line, the team will aim to get Raimann and Smith a full year together. Raimann stepped up a few games into the season last year and performed admirably as a rookie at what is widely considered the toughest job on the line. Now, with 11 starts under his belt, Raimann is ready to not only perform but excel on the blindside in Year 2. Smith continues to be a bright spot on the line, even in a down year for the group. The only challenge with Smith seems to be keeping him on the field. Smith has missed nine games since the start of the 2020 season, and keeping him healthy throughout the year could be big for the integrity of the line.
The roster consistency gave Indianapolis the luxury of not needing to do much to address the position group this offseason. No big men were added in free agency, but the team added two rookies in the draft in fourth-round pick Blake Freeland out of BYU and seventh-round pick Jake Witt out of Northern Michigan. While Witt has an NFL frame that could help him contribute as a rookie depth piece if needed, he’s likely a project that needs a bit of time to develop. Freeland, on the other hand, looks a bit more NFL-ready and is expected to stand in as the team’s swing tackle as a rookie. If Smith does end up missing any time or Raimann experiences a bit of a sophomore slump, Freeland should be the first name off the bench to fill in.
So, that’s the situation heading into 2023. There’s a little concern over the lack of personnel adjustments after a disappointing performance in 2022, but there’s hope that consistency and a new face in the coaching staff will help push this group to its usual dominance. They also inserted that fresh blood that has potential to energize the line, if necessary.
2024 Salary Cap Projections For All 32 Teams
With most of the NFL’s cap space having dried up and most of the league’s top free agents having inked new contracts, many front offices will begin focusing on extensions for impending free agent veterans and players who are about to conclude their rookie contracts.
Naturally, part of these extension efforts will be focused on simply retaining players. However, front offices will also use these extension opportunities to help clean their books for future offseasons. With that said, we’ve compiled the current 2024 cap space outlooks for all 32 NFL teams (h/t to Spotrac.com):
- Houston Texans: $87.77MM
- New England Patriots: $85.43MM
- Chicago Bears: $78.01MM
- Washington Commanders: $67.65MM
- Tennessee Titans: $64.85MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $62.93MM
- Detroit Lions: $49.21MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $45.80MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $44.43MM
- New York Giants: $44.36MM
- Carolina Panthers: $35.95MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $35.66MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $32.45MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $28.64MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $23.04MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $21.85MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $5.14MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $5.10MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $5.01MM
- New York Jets: $346K
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $216K
- Green Bay Packers: $-2.25MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $-5.56MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $-6.66M
- Dallas Cowboys: $-6.67MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $-31.20MM
- Denver Broncos: $-37.89MM
- Buffalo Bills: $-46.20MM
- Miami Dolphins: $-51.46MM
- New Orleans Saints: $-80.98MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $-83.60MM
- Cleveland Browns: $-85.08MM
The Texans are in the midst of a rebuild, so it’s not a huge surprise that they sit atop the list of projected 2024 cap space. The organization currently has only three players projected to have cap hits north of $10MM in 2024 (Laremy Tunsil, Shaq Mason, and Maliek Collins). The Texans could use the 2024 offseason as an opportunity to make the team more competitive, but the team’s hopes of eventually becoming a contender will depend on their draft picks, including a pair of first-round picks in next year’s draft.
After the Patriots went on an uncharacteristic spending spree during the 2021 offseason, things have mostly been quiet over the past two years. Many of those big-money deals from 2021 are set to come off the books in 2024, providing the Patriots with an opportunity to load up during the fourth year of Mac Jones‘ rookie contract. Some of that cap space will surely go to extensions, including safety Kyle Dugger (as we explored the other day).
There are 11 teams that, as currently slated, wouldn’t be cap compliant heading into the 2024 regular season. Those teams will eventually clear up the necessary amount of breathing room, but that will be easier said than done for some organizations. The Browns have six players who are projected to have cap hits north of $18MM in 2024 (Deshaun Watson, Myles Garrett, Amari Cooper, Denzel Ward, Joel Bitonio, and David Njoku), and while reworking some of those pacts will clear up some space, it won’t completely solve Cleveland’s cap predicament.
The Chargers are another interesting team to watch, especially with Justin Herbert likely commanding a lucrative new contract. Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams are projected to count for 59 percent of the team’s 2024 cap, meaning the front office will surely have to make some tough decisions as they look to navigate the 2024 offseason.
Latest On Dalvin Cook, Dolphins
Despite a crowded running backs room, the Dolphins have been consistently linked to free agent Dalvin Cook. While adding a player of Cook’s caliber would surely take snaps away from other worthy players, it sounds like the team’s current RB corps would welcome an All-Pro teammate.
[RELATED: Dolphins Make Offer To Dalvin Cook]
“We’ve got some dawgs here, so having Dalvin Cook in the mix, that competition breeds excellence, man,” fullback Alec Ingold said during an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). “You want as much good quality backs as you can possibly have, especially in our offense when guys can really make something happen with it. You can get the ball, you can touch it a million different ways. You’ve got out of the backfield, you’ve got in the backfield, outside zone, inside zone. We’re gonna run some routes.
“More backs! Give me all the backs! Can we have 15 running backs in the training camp room? I would love it.”
The Dolphins are currently slated to return much of the same running back corps in 2023. This group includes Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Salvon Ahmed, and Myles Gaskin. The team also used a third-round pick on Texas A&M’s Devon Achane.
While that grouping looks okay on paper, that core also finished 25th in rushing yards last season. With the Dolphins looking to make a playoff push, you couldn’t blame the organization for eyeing an upgrade at the position. Mostert ended up pacing the position with 891 yards; Cook has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons.
Miami has loomed as the Cook favorite for months. The Dolphins discussed a Cook trade with the Vikings but ultimately stood down and waited for a release, and they’ve since made the Miami native an offer. PFR readers widely expect the Florida State alum to ultimately sign with his hometown team.