After listening to several comments made about Dalvin Cook, I can honestly say I am on the fence. A great talent at Florida State. The all-time leading rusher in school history. Great breakaway speed. A solid first round draft pick.
But where does Cook fall in this Draft?
For some time, there was a debate as to which back, Cook or LSU’s Leonard Fournette, should be the first back taken off the board. Now, that debate is a mere memory. While I love my Seminoles, the distance between the two is like Gainesville to Tallahassee. Cook is going to be a very good NFL player. I’m just not sure if he will be Fournette in terms of greatness.
Dalvin Cook proved to those in attendance at his Pro Day in Tallahassee he could catch passes, but the one thing that scouts aren’t sure of is his pass blocking. Can he block a pass rusher coming off the edge or stop a linebacker from coming up the middle?
When Cook met with the media two weeks ago, he said this was a process, getting ready for his next level. Now, with two weeks left until the process becomes a reality, where will he go? Will teams agree he can be a bell-cow runner?
In this player profile, we will look at the strengths and weaknesses of Cook as he moves on to the next level. We also include a few teams that will be interested in adding help to their running game.
Strengths
Maybe the biggest compliment I can give Dalvin Cook is he gets better as the game moves forward. His best may be at the end of the game when opposing players start to wilt. Great speed and agility – breakaway speed where he does not get caught from behind.
Weaknesses
Can he be an every-down back? He must work on his ball security and cut down on fumbles. Can he still take the punishment in the NFL that he did not endure on the college level? Overall, scouts worry he may not be as powerful a back on the next level.
Teams Interested
Jacksonville Jaguars (4th), Philadelphia Eagles (14th), Indianapolis Colts (15th), Washington Reskins (17th), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (19th), Denver Broncos (20th), Detroit Lions (21st), Seattle Seahawks (26th), Kansas City Chiefs (27th)