With the postseason proper across the nook, the Baltimore Ravens beefed up the backfield, signing former Professional Bowl operating again Dalvin Cook dinner on Thursday. Nevertheless, latest historical past suggests the transfer will not considerably impression the workforce’s quest for a Lombardi Trophy.
Over the previous few seasons, the Ravens have gambled on a number of veteran backs, seeking to squeeze the final ounces of manufacturing out of them. Since 2019, Baltimore has signed seven skilled backs 28 years or older with a mixed 10 Professional Bowls and two All-Professional nods to their collective resumes. But, except for Mark Ingram, who rushed 1,317 yards over two seasons with the workforce, the remaining have offered combined outcomes at greatest.
Of the remaining six, solely Latavius Murray (501 yards in 14 video games) and Devonta Freeman (576 yards in 16 video games) surpassed 500 yards throughout their tenures with the Ravens. Kenyan Drake, Mike Davis and Le’Veon Bell averaged 161.5 yards over 30 video games.
The Ravens will not want Cook dinner to provide over an entire season, just for their playoff run, however even that may be asking for an excessive amount of. It is potential that becoming a member of the No. 1 seed within the AFC after enjoying for the New York Jets would possibly re-energize the four-time Professional Bowler. Nevertheless, his small 2023 pattern measurement would not supply a lot hope.
After his beautiful breakup with the Minnesota Vikings, Cook dinner adopted Aaron Rodgers to the Jets earlier than issues imploded for the workforce. Over 15 video games, Cooks was a digital non-factor, dashing for 214 yards (3.2 YPA) on solely 67 carries. Based on Sumersports, Cook dinner ranks final in EPA/rush (-.37) proportion with the second-worst first-down (14.9) and yards created (-1.19) percentages amongst 72 certified ball-carriers, together with quarterbacks, within the NFL.
Whether or not or not Cook dinner in the end finds a task with the Ravens remains to be to be decided. Nevertheless, it is a low-risk, high-reward transfer for each side. The one actual losers popping out of Thursday’s transaction are the Jets, who paid the previous Viking $6.8 million final offseason to compete for a Tremendous Bowl ring with one other workforce months later.
