Broncos Urged to Sign RB Dalvin Cook by Former Pro Bowl WR

Since the Minnesota Vikings released running back Dalvin Cook, the rumor mill has consistently linked the Pro Bowler to the Denver Broncos. There has been nothing substantive actually connecting Cook to the Broncos, but GM George Paton's history with the Vikings and Cook, plus Denver's relative need at running back, have kept the rumors alive and well.

ESPN radio host and former Pro Bowl wideout Keyshawn Johnson is among the NFL's talking heads keeping the Cook-to-Denver hype train rolling. On his Keyshawn, JWill & Max radio show this week, Johnson pounded the table on this very subject when asked which NFL team fit Cook best.

“The Denver Broncos,” Johnson said. “I think when you look at what Sean Payton wants to do, he wants to get back to early age Russell Wilson with the Seahawks. Play defense, let him manage the football and run the ball extremely well."

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While the perception of Payton as an offensive schemer is that of an aerial tactician, some of his best offenses of all time in New Orleans featured a devastating and versatile rushing attack. Think of some of the big-name ball carriers Payton had in the Big Easy: Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, Chris Ivory, Mark Ingram, and Alvin Kamara headline the diverse cast.

Combined with a savvy power/gap blocking attack, Payton's collection of running back talent helped soften defenses for Drew Brees over the years. And by now, Broncos Country is well-versed in Wilson's resume and how his most productive years as a pro came in a run-centric system in Seattle.

The Broncos went away from the run-first approach in Year 1 with Wilson on account of the #LetRussCook pitch, but in hindsight, failed head coach Nathaniel Hackett bought into an unproven philosophy. Upon watching the Broncos' offensive film last year, Payton quickly deduced that his Wilson-led offense would need a new mission statement and one that once again featured a productive ground game to bolster and protect the QB, while providing the same keep-the-defense-on-its-heels benefits that Brees enjoyed for so long in New Orleans.

All things being equal, the Broncos have the horses in the ol' running back stable to make Payton's vision a reality. But they're not equal because Javonte Williams' outlook has been clouded by his recovery from a multi-ligament knee injury.

Even though Payton hand-picked Samaje Perine to hedge against any Williams setbacks, the Broncos could erase any lingering question marks at running back and make it a roster strength with one more savvy free-agent addition.

Cook would fit that bill, depending on what it would cost to sign him. The Broncos currently have $8.8 million in cap space, per Over The Cap, which is nearly how much money Cook made last year with the Vikings ($8.3M).

But when it comes to the NFL salary cap, where there's a will, there's a way. Just look at the purported 'cap hell' Payton's Saints operated in for years. There are ways to massage the cap.

Despite Minnesota's questionable decision to get out of the Cook business, the fact remains that he's still just 27 years old and has averaged 1,256 rushing yards and nearly 11 touchdowns per season over the past four years. Not to mention the 350 receiving yards Cook has averaged and the four Pro Bowl nods he earned over that same span.

Talented though they may be, Williams and Perine don't come close to Cook's level of production in recent years. Cook likely wouldn't come cheap, but Johnson's portrayal of the Payton modus operandi smacks of the truth.

“You go back to Drew Brees and what (he) had every single year when he was cookin’ in New Orleans was they could run the football," Johnson said. "That’s Sean Payton. He wants to run the football and do those things. When did Russell Wilson have early success in Seattle? They ran the football. He got a lot of the credit, but it was about defense and Marshawn Lynch. If they can land (Cook), that’ll help them a lot.”

When last we heard from Cook, he was telling Adam Schefter that he wants to "contend for a Super Bowl right now." That was just earlier this week.

While nobody from the local or national perspective is predicting Denver to contend for a Super Bowl in 2023, all bets are off when it comes to the parity of the NFL. And it just so happens that the Broncos will be rolling out a head coach/quarterback combo that has individually reached the top of the NFL mountain and hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in previous stops.

Things that make you say 'hmm.'

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