Cowboys Nearly Land Ex-$63 Million 4-Time Pro Bowl Running Back: Report
Pro Bowl Running Back: Report
GettyThe Dallas Cowboys strongly considered signing former Pro Bowler Dalvin Cook.
The Dallas Cowboys are bringing back Ezekiel Elliott, but the team nearly signed another Pro Bowl running back. The Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken reported that the Cowboys had “at length” discussions about signing Dalvin Cook prior to the reunion with Elliott.
“In October, the Cowboys played a video montage for Ezekiel Elliott’s return to AT&T Stadium when Patriots visited,” Gehlken noted in an April 29, 2024 message on X. “It wasn’t over for them. It’s still not over. Dalvin Cook also was discussed internally at length.”
Last year, the veteran running back snapped a streak of four seasons topping 1,000 rushing yards. Cook had 67 carries for 214 yards and no touchdowns with the New York Jets in 2023.
These were career low numbers for the four-time Pro Bowler. To Cook’s defense, the Jets offense was not exactly thriving, and the team’s season was derailed just snaps into Week 1 when Aaron Rodgers sustained a season-ending ACL injury.
Cook played 15 games for the New York Jets in 2023 before being released and later signed by the Baltimore Ravens ahead of their playoff run. Athlon Sports’ Mike Fisher reported there were some inside the Cowboys front office that wanted the team to sign Cook.
“Did Dallas consider anybody else? Yes. Completely,” Fisher wrote in an April 29, 2024 story, “Cowboys Sign Zeke to $3 Million Contract; Did They Almost Pick Dalvin?”
“Dalvin Cook was considered by some here inside The Star as a ‘low-risk/high-reward’ possibility, and he too was contacted before Dallas pulled the trigger on its ‘legacy’ reunion.
“Is this the right call? With Cook, was there to be no reward at all? Or maybe he wanted a bit more dough than reunion’ed Zeke?” Fisher continued.
“The top players on the free agent market like Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Austin Ekeler quickly found homes elsewhere. Zeke a
