NFL insider says Dalvin Cook won't accept current Dolphins offer

It makes all kinds of sense for Vikings ex Dalvin Cook to sign with the Dolphins. After all, he grew up in Miami and played for Florida State. Do it for nostalgia.

Yet one NFL insider reports that Cook rejected the Dolphins’ last contract offer and could be looking elsewhere. ESPN’s Jeff Darlington said this week there’s “nothing urgent” with the Dalvin Cook team decision.

“Ultimately, he still wants to get a little bit closer to training camp to really nail this down,” ESPN insider Jeff Darlington said on NFL Live. “The one thing I would point out is that the Miami Dolphins remain interested. They still have an offer on the table, one though that Cook is not willing to accept.

“I could see him certainly trying to drum up other leverage. He is still interested in joining the Dolphins, but at this point, again, not willing to commit to the deal that they have on the table.”

There are reports that Cook wants at least $10 million from his new team. That’s basically the franchise tag for running backs. The Vikings released the four-time Pro Bowler last month for financial reasons. Cook was set to earn $10.4 million in Minnesota. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network said that Cook wants either a one- or two-year deal and would like to be one of the highest paid backs in the league. Cook can point to his four straight seasons of gaining at least 1,100 yards as proof he’s worth the money.

Maybe Dalvin Cook should see if Barkley, Jacobs reset market

However, Dalvin Cook also may be waiting to see what happens with the Giants and Raiders later this month. Both Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs have yet to sign their franchise tag offers from their respective teams. Both running backs have until July 17 to make a decision. And both backs are negotiating for more than the $10.1 million offered to them.

Darlington also brought up the situation with the Raiders (Jacobs) and Giants (Barkley).

“It has nothing to do with Dalvin Cook,” Darlington said. “But if Barkley and Jacobs perhaps could reset the market with a deal of their own, perhaps it would give the Dolphins and Dalvin Cook or another team some idea of what his pay should be. So just one little threshold that maybe we should keep an eye on. If that doesn’t happen, Cook and the Dolphins would have to work out something on their own.”

The Dolphins rookies report to training camp, July 18, with veterans checking in a week later. Raheem Mostert led Miami’s running back rotation last fall. In April, the Dolphins also added former Texas A&M speedster Devon Achane, a third-round draft pick.