Bills BREAKING: Vikings Set to Cut Dalvin Cook - Should Buffalo Sign?

If they feel inclined, the Buffalo Bills could shift their attention to potentially signing Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook in free agency following Thursday's news of his release from the Minnesota Vikings.

The Buffalo Bills might finally have something to take all the attention away from the DeAndre Hopkins hype.

Another star is now set to enter free agency, as the Minnesota Vikings have informed star running back Dalvin Cook that he'll be released, per multiple reports Thursday.

Per reports from ESPN, the Vikings will try to trade the four-time Pro Bowler one last time on Thursday. If the team is unable to strike a deal, they'll release Cook on Friday.

It had been speculated all offseason that Cook will either be traded or released by the Vikings since the team appeared unwilling to give him his desired contract extension. With the inevitable on the horizon, Cook had, in the event that he was cut, apparently already begun making his wish list of destinations, and reportedly has his sights set on the AFC East.

Per previous reports from Armando Salguero of FOX News, Cook has narrowed down his preferred destinations to the Bills and Miami Dolphins.

"Cook is from Miami. Has has made it known through sources he’d like to play either for the Dolphins or with his brother James Cook on the Bills," Salguero wrote. "And the Vikings have let it known Cook probably isn’t in their future."

New reports from ESPN took this a step further after Cook's release on Thursday. Per Adam Schefter, the Dolphins and Denver Broncos are two teams to watch in the race for the now-former Viking, as they've "been monitoring Cook for weeks."

The Bills already have a potential sales pitch in store for Cook. He could sign with Buffalo to become the RB1 on a Super Bowl contender while also reuniting with his younger brother, James, in the Bills backfield.

But the Bills would likely have to give Cook the big contract he's been searching for. And despite the offseason additions of Damien Harris and Latavius Murray on smaller deals in the backfield, Buffalo may not have to look at Cook's statistical production for long before potentially deciding if he's a good fit for an offense that hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017.

Cook has topped at least 1,000 rushing yards and six total touchdowns in each of the last four seasons. He's also not too far removed from his incredible 2020 season, which saw him finish second in the league in rushing yards (1,557) and tied for second in rushing touchdowns (16).

But if they want to be convinced, the Bills might have to look no further than the 81-yard rushing touchdown he scored against them in a thrilling 33-30 overtime win for the Vikings on Nov. 13.

Still, just because Cook reportedly wants to be in Buffalo doesn't necessarily mean the Bills feel the same. Once Cook is officially a free agent, time will tell how aggressive the Bills' pursuit of him is.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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