Bills 'Epic' Dream Scenario? Dalvin Cook Wants to Play with DeAndre Hopkins
The Buffalo Bills may have just grown substantially more motivated to fulfill the never-ending free agency rumors that have surrounded them this offseason.
Two of the biggest names currently on the market have been floated in conversations surrounding the Bills in one way or another this offseason, as former Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins and former Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook have both been intriguing free-agent ideas when it comes to one of the AFC's true contenders.
The Hopkins hype has been non-stop for the Bills this offseason, but has died down as of late since the All-Pro receiver has made visits with the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.
But Cook, whose brother, James, is a second-year running back in Buffalo, could've just given the Bills all the more reason to take a financial risk and swing for the fences on Hopkins.
During a Monday appearance on the "The Adam Schefter Podcast," Cook made it clear that he would love to team up with Hopkins if the dominoes fall into place ... which, of course, is a big "if."
"If we end up on the same roster, that would be something epic for the NFL," Cook said.
It would also be epic for Buffalo's Super Bowl chances. In this dream, fantasy football-like scenario where Cook follows Hopkins to Orchard Park, the Bills would then have another No. 1 receiver to pair alongside Stefon Diggs while adding a Pro Bowler to a backfield that hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2017.
Cook's championship aspirations certainly matches that of the Bills, who enter the season with a Super Bowl-or-bust approach once again.
"I want to go win," Cook said. "Like I said, the money gonna come and that's going to happen. But like as far as going to lift that [Vince Lombardi] Trophy up, he got the same mindset as me."
But this isn't your family's fantasy football league where you can convince your 10-year-old cousin to trade you Hopkins or Cook for your starting defense or kicker.
Cook was recently released by the Vikings, who were unwillingly to give him the contract extension he desired. Per Spotrac, the Bills only have about $5 million in cap space, which marks the fifth-fewest in the league.
Sure, Bills general manager Brandon Beane could realistically make some roster manueverrs to help clear space to sign Hopkins. It even seemed inevitable at point based on all the back-and-forth flirting between him and Buffalo.
But where does that leave Cook in this team-up scenario? It's clear he wants to win a ring, but at what cost? A veteran's minimum? That might be all the Bills would be willing to offer, especially since they already added running backs Damien Harris and Latavius Murray to the backfield this offseason.
Plus, Cook's desire to team up with Hopkins is likely only half-serious. In a perfect world, of course he'd like to join an offense that would feature one of the best receivers of the past decade. But the two haven't even discussed such possibilities yet, putting out the fire on this pile of hype for now.
"But we haven't talked," Cook said. "And he was one of those guys that I was going to reach out to, because, like, I know he got the same mindset as me, like we trying to go win. We're trying to go on the roster and trying to go contend."
The pair would have arguably their best chance at contending if they were to somehow sign with the Bills. But despite the many eyebrows that likely perked up at Cook's comments, his words likely served as more of an unintentionally-interesting conversational piece rather than a direct intention.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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