NFL Trade Deadline: Dalvin Cook's Conversation Could Shake Up the Market

As the NFL trade deadline approaches, certain targets have stolen the spotlight. Teams in need of a running back, for example, are probably eyeing Derrick Henry. The Tennessee Titan has proved to be a genuine offensive weapon, even in an era when the ground game is largely considered secondary to a strong passing attack.

It goes without saying that Henry isn't the only running back available. A newer name, however, seems to have entered the fray ahead of the deadline: Dalvin Cook.

And if you're a team looking to make a deal, the Jets running back's (potential) presence on the trade block might be a reasonable option.

Let's break things down.

Cook Is Ready to Talk About His Role in NYC

In the world of sports, demanding a trade is usually a bad look. Cook isn't at that point yet, but his future might not be in the Big Apple.

During the veteran's brief time in New York, things didn't go as planned. Aaron Rodgers went down injured in Week 1, affecting the Jets' offense. Breece Hall is shining after a speedy return from injury, which is cutting into Cook's carries.

Cook told ESPN's Rich Cimini, "I'm an honest person, man. I work. I want to play. That's just anyway. And yeah, it's frustrating. It's new for me. I come from getting the ball 20 times a game or however many times. Of course it's frustrating. It's something that I've been adapting to."

Cimini also reported that the running back was planning on speaking to the Jets' brass about the possibility of a trade. While he wasn't specifically looking to leave town, the veteran is after what's "best for everyone."

And, from the outside, it's easy to see how that solution could be a trade. Cook, if we take him at his word, wants more work. The Jets don't need to be carrying a $7 million cap hit for a back who's averaging fewer than three yards per carry and 20 yards per game. Receiving an asset in return, even if it's a low-tier draft pick, is better than nothing.

Cook's Potential Availability Could Change the Deadline

Based on his lack of success with the Jets, it's easy to assume that Cook's potential availability could be a nonfactor at the trade deadline. That said, there's something to be said for supply and demand.

Place yourself in the shoes of an NFL general manager for a moment. If you want to acquire a big-name running back at the deadline, Henry is the logical option. His body of work, after all, speaks for itself.

The problem, however, is that Henry is an obvious choice. Everyone affiliated with the NFL knows what he can do, and he's sitting at the top of virtually every "trade targets" list. And while the Titans will probably be realistic about cutting a deal—they've already sent Kevin Byard packing—they can set an asking price and see who meets it.

In a best-case scenario, there's a bidding war. In a worst-case outcome, Tennessee starts high and reduces the demands as the trade deadline approaches.

Cook, however, could change the calculus. While his 2023 campaign hasn't been impressive, his overall body of work is strong. If you're a team in need of a spark, the veteran is probably more compelling than someone like Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who has slipped further and further down Kansas City's depth chart.

It's also possible that Cook could move at a reasonable price. Given that he's playing on a one-year contract and carries a decent-sized salary—Cimini noted that he "makes $262,222 for every game he's on the 53-man roster and another $70,588 for every game he's active"—the Jets would probably cut a deal without asking for a great deal in return.

And now that the running back has met with General Manager Joe Douglas to talk turkey, the Jets have lost even more leverage. Gang Green can't exactly tell the rest of the NFL that Cook is an invaluable part of the team who can be moved only for an offer they can't refuse.

That's not to say that the rest of the NFL is going to line up in New York desperately trying to add Cook to their respective rosters. The veteran has struggled this season, and teams have largely become hesitant about overinvesting in a single ball carrier.

But this much of an acknowledgment that a trade could be on the horizon could still affect the market. Maybe a team like the Buccaneers, who are potentially looking for a running back, will decide to focus on Cook rather than Henry. Perhaps the Titans choose to cut their asking price in an attempt to avoid being stuck holding the bag.

Either way, though, we'll probably hear more about Cook and his chat with the Jets before the trade deadline comes and goes.