Some of the biggest news surrounding the Dallas Cowboys this offseason was Ezekiel Elliott's release.
Zeke played for the Cowboys from 2016 until 2022 and was a fan favorite for his duration in Dallas. He had a phenomenal rookie year as he rushed for 1631 yards on 5.1 yards per carry and looked like Dallas' running back of the future.
Unfortunately, his game declined yearly and he played his worst year last season for Dallas.
Tony Pollard is now the full-time starter and doesn't have anyone in the backfield with him that will take his carries.
The Cowboys signed Ronald Jones in free agency to add some depth and give them a power-style back. Along with Pollard and Jones, they still have Malik Davis on the roster, and they drafted Kansas State star, Deuce Vaughn.
The running back position looks filled out in Dallas, and they could roll with what they have right now and likely still have a top-five rushing offense in the NFL. In years past, they probably wouldn't have made a move. They would have been content with their roster and see what they do with it.
But this offseason is different.
The Cowboys have been all-in on win-now moves and are putting together the best roster they've ever had in the Dak Prescott era. One way they can make this roster even better is by signing recently-releasing Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook.
Cook was involved in trade rumors this offseason, and Dallas was a team linked to him. Now that the Vikings released him, Dallas could aggressively pursue him.
Here are two reasons why the Cowboys should sign Cook.
2. Cook gives Cowboys their best offense in the 21st century
Dalvin Cook on the current Cowboys roster would give them the best offense they've had in the 21st century.
Cook is a dynamic running back that has proved his worth over his entire NFL career. He has rushed for a total of 5,993 yards with 47 touchdowns and has been one of the faces of the Vikings for multiple years.
Having him and Tony Pollard in the same backfield would be electric. It would easily be the best running-back duo in the NFL and give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares. They could even roll out formations with both of them on the field. The possibilities are endless with these two elite backs on the same roster.
Cook is a strong runner between the tackles and is good at breaking tackles. Cook's unique and physical running style would allow Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy to open up the playbook and give the offense their best chance to succeed.
This duo also has the perfect balance of power and agility. Both backs can run between the tackles and outside and catch passes with relative ease. Dallas has never seen a true two-headed monster with Pollard on the roster, as Elliott was an average running back by the time Pollard hit his prime.
Cook and Pollard in the same backfield make Dallas' offense even more deadly and Dallas shouldn't pass up on an opportunity to bring him in.
1. Cowboys have the cap space
Fans have been wondering why the Cowboys haven't made any more moves, as they have over $21 million in cap space. The team seems uninterested in free-agent wide receiver Deandre Hopkins, and now Dalvin Cook is on the market.
Dallas should make a move for Cook now.
He likely won't be too expensive, and Dallas shouldn't let the cap space go to waste. It also seems like the Cowboys have been waiting to make a move and could have been waiting for Cook to get released.
Even after signing Cook, the Cowboys would likely still have more cap space leftover. They have the money and the players to compete for a Super Bowl and can't let Cook slip away.
Dallas releasing Ezekiel Elliott was a great move, and signing Cook as his replacement would be the icing on the cake. They can't expect Ronald Jones, Deuce Vaughn, or Malik Davis to fill in Elliott's shoes, and having a veteran running back like Cook would help each of their development.
Stay tuned to see what Dallas decides to do with their cap space and if they use it on Cook. Cook is the best free-agent running back on the market, and his presence makes Dallas even more of a Super Bowl contender.