3 potential post-June 1st cuts the NY Jets could target
By Ryan Shafer
![Dalvin Cook, NY Jets Dalvin Cook, NY Jets](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5392,h_3033,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/30/01h2709cdy0jvnky51wc.jpg)
2. The NY Jets could target Dalvin Cook
Here me out on this one. I know everyone will immediately say, "But the Jets have Breece Hall!" And yes, they do. And yes, they just drafted Israel Abinikanda. And yes, they have Michael Carter and Zonovan Knight still on the team. And yes, I know running back has become a running-back-by-committee position.
However, the Jets could really use that extra punch offensively to push them over the edge. Hall will be on a snap count at the start of the season almost certainly, and beyond him, the rest of the group is hit or miss.
Michael Carter had a really bad season last year after a promising rookie campaign. Even after Hall's injury, he saw really minimal opportunities and failed to make an impact.
He saw a regression in both receiving and rushing yards, lost more than a yard on his average per carry, and scored fewer touchdowns. Is it really a guarantee to be part of a winning offense averaging 3.5 yards per carry?
Knight, after bursting onto the scene following Hall's injury and Carter's ineffectiveness slowed down by year's end. After tallying 230 yards on 46 carries from weeks 12-14 last year, Knight failed to top 27 yards in any game after, finishing with 85 carries for 300 yards on the season.
Again, although he has flashed some ability, is he really the answer to pick up the slack for Hall while he gets back to speed?
The most exciting of the potential fill-ins is rookie Israel Abinikanda from Pittsburgh. Improving every year while at Pitt, Abinikanda tallied 239 carries for over 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.
He has the speed and agility to be the "home-run hitter" that Hall was as well. But, he is a rookie. Can the Jets rely on him that heavily in year one?
Dalvin Cook would offer proven stability and skill to the position group while Hall recovers from injury. Although not a workhorse running back any longer, Cook has still topped over 1,135 yards each of the last four seasons and posted 43 rushing touchdowns in that span. He can also be relied on to catch the ball out of the backfield with over 220 career catches and over 1,700 yards.
Cook could pace the backfield for the early part of the season before moving into a backup role as the Jets make their playoff push later in the year. Hall and Cook would provide one of the best running back duo's in the league with Israel Akinibanda serving as a legitimate third option.
Carter and Knight would become cut options themselves, but adding Cook would be a massive upgrade to the group. Since the Minnesota Vikings plan to release him on Friday, this is likely the most realistic option on the list.