NY Jets officially sign Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook

The inevitable has officially happened — the NY Jets have signed Dalvin Cook.

Following weeks of speculation and, for lack of a better term, "flirting" between the two sides, the Jets have agreed to terms on a one-year contract worth a maximum of $8.6 million with the four-time Pro Bowl running back. The deal includes a base value of $7 million and $1.6 million in incentives, per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.

This comes after Cook visited with the team last month. Jets fans in attendance chanted his name as Cook made his way to the practice field in a white t-shirt and jeans. Soon, they'll have the opportunity to see him on the field in green and white.

Cook also garnered interest from teams like the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, but the Jets always seemed like the most likely landing spot. Now, it's finally happened.

Dalvin Cook provides much-needed depth for the NY Jets

The Jets' interest in Cook never came as much of a surprise. While the team is obviously fully behind Breece Hall as their RB1, the former Iowa State star is still rehabbing a torn ACL he suffered in October of last year.

The Jets do expect Hall to be ready for Week 1, but adding Cook helps provide experienced depth behind him. Hall is unlikely to be given a full workload early in the season as the team has no plans to rush him back into action.

Cook's efficiency may be on the decline, but he's still put together four consecutive seasons of at least 1,100 rushing yards. He remains one of the most productive running backs in football.

Michael Carter is coming off a disappointing 2022 season, Zonovan Knight flashed before falling off, and rookie Israel Abanikanda is a question mark. Cook gives the Jets proven depth behind their young star running back.

Now, expecting Cook to be anywhere near the player he was at his peak is probably foolish. Cook finished last season ranked dead last in the NFL in RYOE (rushing yards over expected) and saw his yards per carry fall to 4.4.

As Michael Nania of Jets X Factor points out, if you remove Cook's two longest carries of 81 and 53 yards, his average drops to a lackluster 3.97 yards per carry. His 2022 season wasn't nearly as effective as the box score might indicate.

Still, the Jets don't need him to be prime Dalvin Cook. They just need him to help shoulder some of the load early in the season during a particularly daunting part of the Jets' schedule. He can still do that.

The Dalvin Cook/Jets love affair has gone on for weeks now. On Monday, it finally reached its expected conclusion. Cook is a Jet — let the so-called "super team" commence.