NFL Rumors: Eagles among top teams to land star running back during offseason
With Miles Sanders’ future in Philadelphia uncertain, running back will be one of several positions the Eagles will have to address in the offseason.
Although Sanders rushed for a career-high 1269 yards and 11 TDs last season, the Eagles have been reluctant to shell out top-end money for running backs in the past, aside from LeSean McCoy 11 years ago. If Sanders and GM Howie Roseman are too far apart on a new deal, the team may elect to look elsewhere.
Philadelphia won’t be short on options as the upcoming free agent class is loaded with RB talent.
Top 2023 RB Free Agents
- Josh Jacobs
- Saquon Bakley
- Jamaal Williams
- Tony Pollard
- Devin Singletary
- Kareem Hunt
- Jeff Wilson
- David Montgomery
Another player that could be available amongst these names is star running back Dalvin Cook, who has potentially played his last game in Minnesota. Cook is under contract for three more seasons, but the Vikings are projected to be roughly $24M over the cap and have some tough decisions to make.
In addition, Kevin O’Connel’s offense ran the ball just 34% of the time in 2022 — not an ideal fit for Cook’s playstyle. With $2M of Cook’s salary becoming guaranteed on March 17, Minnesota can save around $11M in cap by designating him as a post-June 1st cut, a move that seems more imminent by the day.
On a recent episode of the SNOR North podcast, Vikings Insider Darren Wolfson suggested that Minnesota could be desperate enough to sell Cook’s services for a mid-round pick:
“I would be shocked if the Vikings could get a third for Dalvin Cook,” Wolfson said. “If they can get a third for Dalvin Cook, done deal. They will make that move. They will take the dead money cap hit but also get some cap relief.”
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The Vikings have just four 2023 draft selections — securing additional capital while offloading an aging vet for cap relief may very well be the priority. According to Bookies.com, Philadelphia is a likely destination for the four-time Pro Bowler:
Dalvin Cook 2023 Next Team Odds
- Minnesota Vikings: +175
- Miami Dolphins: +350
- Philadelphia Eagles: +450
- Chicago Bears: +750
The Eagles reportedly attempted to trade up for Cook in the 2019 draft before Minnesota jumped ahead of them, so the interest has always been there. The question is whether Cook would be willing to restructure his contract upon arrival, as Roseman won’t want $14M of cap space occupied by a tailback.
Conversely, the idea of adding a workhouse like Cook to an offense consisting of Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, and co. could entice an aggressive front office eager to return to the Super Bowl.
Dalvin Cook is second in the NFL in total yards since 2019, tallying over 6,000 yards from scrimmage and 46 TDs. The 27-year-old recently underwent surgery on a broken shoulder and should be ready to go for 2023.
.@DalvinCook goes 81 YARDS!!!
— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2022
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Mandatory Credit: Matt Rourke | Associated Press
