Bills Signing Dalvin Cook? The Buzz is Coming Alive Again

One analyst is predicting that Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook will be the one to end up with the Buffalo Bills when it's all said and done, which would most likely have to happen through a post-cut signing.

This offseason, the Buffalo Bills have continued to make the roster additions they feel are necessary and affordable for the organization, not exactly the ones that satisfy the social media masses.

DeAndre Hopkins? A trade for the Arizona Cardinals star receiver had the most legit buzz of them all for awhile ... until the Cards outright released him, which now makes it anyone's game. The Bills could send a shockwave through the fan base by adding Hopkins, but that remains to be seen.

How about Austin Ekeler? An interesting thought that floated around for a bit given the running back's contract situation with the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo's need for a star at the position, but a trade and subsequent contract signing might not be something the Bills can afford.

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook has been another big name to watch on this wish list given Buffalo's position of need and the presence of his younger brother James in the Bills' backfield. Despite there being no concrete reports connecting Cook to Buffalo, it remained another intriguing idea during the early parts of the offseason, though some of that has quieted down.

But with team diving deeper into the offseason as OTAs continue, the Vikings will have to figure out their Cook situation. Do they give him a new contract? Do they cut him? Trade him?

Regardless of what happens, NBC Sports analyst Matthew Berry is predicting that Cook will be the one to end up with the Bills when it's all said and done, which would most likely have to happen through a post-cut signing.

“I think Dalvin Cook is not a member of the Minnesota Vikings (next season),” Berry said. “I think Dalvin Cook leaves the Vikings, and bold prediction as to where he goes–I think he plays with his brother, James, in Buffalo.”

Berry also makes the obvious, yet interesting point of Cook being able to reunite with former Viking teammates Latavius Murray and Stefon Diggs. The two could potentially play a behind-the-scenes recruiting role to convince Cook to sign with Buffalo if he is indeed released.

Add this to the fact that the Vikings official Twitter has removed Cook from the header photo and replaced him with Alexander Mattison, and more eyebrows will start to raise.

“His former teammate Stefon Diggs is there, his brother there, the only other competition in the backfield is Latavius Murray and Damien Harris,” Berry said. “I could see James Cook and Stefon Diggs and Josh Allen saying, ‘Dalvin, come over here and win a Super Bowl with us.’ There’s a lot of reasons why you could see that, if they release Dalvin Cook as a free agent, that he could wind up in Buffalo.”

The Bills would have to give Cook the big contract he's been searching for. And despite the offseason additions of Harris and Murray on smaller deals, 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.

Of course, none of this serves as a concrete report. It's merely just fun predictions during a long offseason. But the potential partnership between the Bills and Cook remains one that's impossible to ignore due to the need for star power at running back and the reunion he could have with his brother and former teammates.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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