The Miami Dolphins have brought back their entire running back room from the 2022 season for 2023, which includes Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed.
On top of that, they’ve also signed two rookies, third-round pick De’Von Achane and undrafted back Chris Brooks.
Despite Miami’s depth at the position, the Dolphins are expected to pursue recently released running back Dalvin Cook, who’s made the Pro Bowl in each of the last four seasons.
However, even though he’s a free agent and no longer will cost a draft pick to acquire, the price tag could be to steep for Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, who has been known to be quite frugal in regards to running backs.
Speaking to Rich Eisen last week, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who broke the news the Cook would be released, shared what the running back could be looking for monetarily.
“Dalvin Cook, I would fairly say, is not coming in for $4-5 million,” Pelissero said. “That’s not going to happen. This is going to be a significant contract. My understanding is they’re open to both a one-year deal and multi-year deal. This could move quickly, or Dalvin could sit back knowing he’s got $2 million guaranteed from his Vikings’ contract, wait, kind of see how things fall, if he doesn’t like the offers that he’s got up front here. But, I do anticipate fully that he’s going to be on a team by the time we get to the regular season here. It’s just a matter of finding that right fit, and a team having to pay, and when you have multiple bidders, usually that means you’re going to get some numbers.”
The Dolphins don’t have a bad running back room. In fact, the duo of Mostert and Wilson, when healthy, have been one of the most efficient in the league. Last season, their first in Miami, the two combined for 1,283 yards and six touchdowns on an impressive 4.8 yards per carry.
With all of the other contract situations they have to worry about, including possible extensions for Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler, Raekwon Davis, Connor Williams and Robert Hunt, Miami may need to steer away from a big commitment to another running back before the 2023 season kicks off.
