LA Rams and NFL Free Agency round-Up: RB Dalvin Cook

There has been speculation regarding the status of Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook for months now. The idea was that the team would wait until after June 1st to part ways with the veteran running back in order to save cap space on their roster. That anticipated move happened Thursday morning when Cook was informed he would be released if there isn't a suitable trade offer. Now there's a top-five caliber of RB on the market right before the start of training cap.

Cook, 27 years old, is coming off his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. He has a career yards per carry average of 4.7 along with 47 rushing touchdowns and five scores for touchdowns through the air. He is a dynamic player when on the field and could be a huge asset for the right team, and the right offense. For now, the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos are considered favorites to go after Cook once this deal is official. While those teams sound like a fit for Cook, the team with the most sense would be the LA Rams.

LA Rams starting quarterback Matthew Stafford will be joined this year by returning veteran wide receivers Van Jefferson and Copper Kupp. After an injury-riddled 2022 season, all are expected to be healthy to start this season. Adding a running back with the skillset of Dalvin Cook to the backfield with the offensive mindset of head coach Sean McVay could prove to be a nightmare for defenses.

Can Cook bake up a treat for Rams fans?

As it stands at this moment, the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers are considered to be the favorites to meet once more for the NFC Championship. But adding a talent like Cook to the roster of practically any NFC team in his prime could change the entire aspect of the conference.

Former Rams RB Todd Gurley had 1251 yards in 2018 in just 14 games under McVay, being used in multiple ways in the running and passing game plan. The Rams haven't had that type of talent at running back since his release in 2019.

Cook has proven to be more durable with a similar skill set. The conference is wild open, this is the type of move that GM Les Snead made for the 2021 Super Bowl run. Cap space might be an issue, but if you want to return to the status you were at as a team, this is the first step towards that.