The Dallas Cowboys, despite what owner Jerry Jones recently said about not making any more acquisitions, are potentially looking to improve their running back room before the start of the 2024 NFL season. Earlier this offseason, Dallas allowed Tony Pollard, their starting running back last season, to depart in free agency. Coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, Pollard signed with the Tennesse Titans.

To replace Pollard, the Cowboys elected to bring back Ezekiel Elliott, who spent the 2023 NFL season with the New England Patriots. Their current running back room also consists of Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, and Malik Davis.

Unsure if this group will be good enough to help Dallas be competitive this season, it appears that they are exploring the possibility of adding a four-time Pro Bowl running back who is still a free agent.

The Dallas Cowboys Are Flying in Dalvin Cook for a Visit

Dallas Cowboys, Dalvin Cook
Dec 4, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (4) warms up before the game against the New York Jets at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

According to multiple NFL insiders, the Cowboys are flying in four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook for a visit. To be clear, they have not engaged in any contract talks yet; but talks could start if the visit goes well.

NFL insider Aaron Wilson posted on X, “Cowboys are flying in Dalvin Cook for a visit tonight per a league source. Four-time Pro Bowl selection not in contract talks yet, but this is a promising meeting.”

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network also posted about the visiting, writing, “The Cowboys might not be done: Sources say 4x Pro Bowl RB Dalvin Cook is flying to Dallas tonight for a visit. Unlike a year ago, when he was rehabbing from shoulder surgery, Cook has hit the weights all offseason and says he feels the best he has in years.”

As Pelissero notes, Cook was not healthy last offseason as he searched for a new team. He eventually signed with the New York Jets, but had a season that was far below what one would have expected from him.

In 15 games with New York, he had just 214 rushing yards on 67 carries, good for a career-worst 3.2 yards per carry.

The Jets released him in January, and he was picked up by the Baltimore Ravens, but did not appear in any regular season games for them. He had eight carries for 23 yards in their Divisional Round win against the Houston Texans but did not play in the AFC Championship Game.

Dalvin Cook Has a Connection to the Dallas Cowboys in Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer

Dallas Cowboys, Dalvin Cook
Dec 30, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and running back Dalvin Cook (33) meet before the game against Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Cook, of course, is best known for his days with the Minnesota Vikings, the team that current Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer served as head coach from 2014-2021.

Cook was drafted by the Vikings in 2017, but did not really breakout until his third season in 2019. That year, he had 1,135 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He also made the first of four-consecutive Pro Bowls.

In 2020, Cook had the best year of his career, racking up 1,557 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. He had two more 1,000+ yard seasons in 2021 and 2022 before a shoulder injury derailed his time in Minnesota.

Now a free agent, Cook is looking for a chance to prove that he can still be a premier running back in the NFL. After all, he most recently ran for 1,000 yards in 2022.

If Dallas is convinced that he still has enough of his old self left in him, he could be a major boost to the offense.