What Dolphins did that keeps alive chance of Cook or a running back on second day of draft

The Dolphins quickly checked the ‘running back’ box of offseason needs in March by re-signing Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin. With fullback Alec Ingold also under contract for 2023, Miami seemed set with the running back group that would make its 53-man roster, barring injuries.

But it’s apparently not so simple. In this case, looks can be deceiving.

The Dolphins have shown interest in several running backs in the pre-draft process, suggesting they’re not opposed to slightly altering the status quo.

And they continue to be linked to Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook, whose future with the Vikings is very much in question.

The Dolphins and Vikings already have discussed a trade for Cook this offseason, but the trade did not happen in part because the sides could not agree on the draft pick compensation that would go to Minnesota, according to a source.

In the meanwhile, Vikings management remains non-committal about whether the four-time Pro Bowl back will even be on the team this season. “I’m told all options are on the table here and that he could be released closer to the draft if things don’t work out,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported.

According to a source, the Dolphins are expected to inquire about Cook if he’s released. And though Cook would be fine staying with Minnesota, the Dolphins would be among the teams of interest to him if he’s released. What’s unclear is how much Miami would be willing to pay him.

The Dolphins can still pursue Cook - or draft a running back in the second or third round - because they protected themselves contractually with all four of their veteran tailbacks.

If an opportunity arises for Miami to add a player that they consider better, they can move on from any of the four with little or no financial consequence.

Consider:

▪ None of Gaskin’s $1 million salary is guaranteed, and his $975,882 cap hit would shrink to nothing (no dead cap hit) if he’s cut before or after June 1. So once Gaskin agreed to the those terms, there was no risk to the Dolphins in re-signing him.

▪ Ahmed, who surpassed Gaskin as Miami’s No. 3 running back late in the season, appears slightly less at risk than Gaskin if the Dolphins draft a running back who makes the team.

But even with Ahmed, the Dolphins do not face any onerous financial consequences if they release him. Only $200,000 of Ahmed’s $1 million salary is guaranteed, and eating that money would be no sweat for owner Stephen Ross.

If Ahmed is cut in training camp or before the season, his 2023 Dolphins cap hit would shrink from $1.4 million to $100,000.

▪ Though Mostert seems safe even if the Dolphins add Cook, it’s notable that his $2.187 million Dolphins cap number for 2023 shrinks to a $650,000 2023 dead money cap hit if he’s traded after June 1.

▪ Wilson’s $2.2 million Dolphins 2023 cap hit shrinks to $782,500 if he’s traded after June 1.

Say the Dolphins add Cook or Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs (a potential second-round pick) and another team loses its starting or No. 2 running back in training camp or preseason. The Dolphins - if they choose - could dangle Wilson for a draft pick without taking on too much dead money.

So the subtle contract nuances for each of those players essentially have given Miami the ability to do what it wants at running back.

The Dolphins, within six weeks, will have cap space to make a significant move if they choose. Miami has $3 million in cap space and will get $13.6 million more on June 1, when Byron Jones’ contract comes off the books. An extension with Christian Wilkins could clear out a few million more off their cap.

Miami likes Cook; that was the reason the Dolphins explored a trade with the Vikings weeks ago.

But if Cook is released - no sure thing - the question is how much Miami would be willing to spend on him, compared with other teams. The fact he grew up in South Florida would give the Dolphins one advantage, but likely not a deciding edge if another team offers substantially more.

Cook, 27, has made the Pro Bowl each of the past four seasons, topped 1,300 yards all four of those years and scored 46 touchdowns over that period. In 2022, Cook rushed for 1,173 yards, averaged 4.4 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns (eight rushing, two receiving).

Cook has three years remaining on his five-year, $63 million extension with Minnesota. He has a $14.1 million cap hit in 2023, which is the third-highest among all NFL running backs; he’s owed $10.4 million this season, but only $2 million is guaranteed.

In 2024 and 2025, he has cap hits of $15.6 million and $14.5 million, and none of his $11.9 million salary in 2024 and $13.9 million salary in 2025 is guaranteed. If Cook is released this offseason, the Vikings would save $32.8 million over the next three seasons.

So a parting with the Vikings seems inevitable at some point. The biggest question is which team will give him close to that kind of money at a position where teams are spending less and less.

As for the draft, there was this interesting nugget from ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller:

“The Dolphins worked to re-sign three running backs to short-term deals in free agency but are still evaluating the top running back prospects in this class, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s plans.

“With no first round-selection and four total picks, running back could be addressed in Rounds 2 or 3. Roschon Johnson (Texas), Zach Charbonnet (UCLA) or scatback Devon Achane (Texas A&M) could fit. The Dolphins still need a true RB1, similar to how the 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey despite having a full RB depth chart last year. Both Charbonnet and Johnson could end up fitting that billing.”

The Dolphins repeatedly have been linked to Alabama’s Gibbs, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper is among those who say the Dolphins should take him at 51 if he’s there.

As NFL reporter Aaron Wilson noted, the Dolphins brought in Tulsa’s Deneric Prince for a pre-draft visit. He rushed for 729 yards on 5.8 per carry last season and averaged 5.5 per carry in three seasons at Tulsa. He began his college career at Texas A&M, but had only two carries (for 21 yards) before transferring.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein says the 6-0, 216-pound Prince “has the size and power to capture the attention of evaluators, but he needs to run like a power back on a more frequent basis.... Becoming a decisive downhill back will be critical if he’s going to have a chance to make it on the next level.”

Also, the Dolphins privately worked out Georgia’s Kenny McIntosh and interviewed Arizona State’s Xazavian Valladay last week.

McIntosh ran for 829 yards (5.6 per carry) and 10 touchdowns at Georgia last season, while catching 43 passes for 505 yards (11.7 average) and two TDs.

Zierlein said is McIntosh “is best suited for a complementary role that allows him to explore the flanks of the offense instead of trying to pound and create between the tackles.... He could become a RB2 with full-time third-down reps.”

Valladay, who’s 6-0 and 198 pounds, led the Pac-12 with 18 touchdowns last season (16 of them on the ground) and ran for 1192 yards (5.5 per carry) in his one season at Arizona State, while catching 37 passes for 298 yards. Before that, he averaged 5.2 yards and scored 19 touchdowns in four years at Wyoming.

Valladay impressed at the Combine (40-inch vertical, 4.44 in 40 yard dash).

Tulane’s Tyjae Spears - who had 19 touchdowns last season - visited with Dolphins officials on Zoom. He had big numbers last season: 1581 yards rushing on 6.9 per carry and 22 receptions for 256 yards (11.6 average).

Zierlein said Spears “has the size of a change-of-pace back, but he needs to play with more consistent explosiveness.”

ESPN’s Kiper has three running backs going in the first two rounds in his latest mock draft: Texas’ Bijan Robinson 18th, Gibbs 37th and UCLA’s Charbonnet 60th.

Charbonnet ran for 1359 yards on 7.0 per carry and caught 37 passes for 321 yards (8.7 per reception). He played two years at UCLA after playing his first two years at Michigan, where he averaged 5.1 yards on 168 caries.

“At 6 feet, 214 pounds, Charbonnet is tough and patient between the tackles,” Kiper said. “He doesn’t have breakaway speed, so he likely won’t ever be a big-play threat. He could be a stellar goal-line back, though. He also caught 37 passes last season, showing soft hands.”

Besides Gibbs and Charbonnet, other potential second-day picks include Texas A&M’s Achane (1102 yards on 5.6 per carry) and possibly Texas’ Roschon Johnson (554 yards on 6.0 per carry) and possibly UAB’s DeWayne McBride (1713 yards on 7.4 per carry but just five career receptions).

NFL.com’s Zierlein said of the 5-8 1/2, 188-pound Achane: “He has blazing speed and is fearless as an inside runner, but is very small by NFL standards.”

Zierlein said McBride is a “productive runner with the physical/athletic attributes” but that his “lack of third down value could hurt his draft slotting, but his upside is worth a Day 3 selection.”

Zierlein calls Johnson a “power back with bruising frame who fits the football cliche of “tough, smart and dependable.” Johnson might be fighting off competition every year in camp, but his toughness and four-phase special teams value could give him an advantage.”

The Dolphins don’t have picks in the fourth or fifth rounds. Backs who could go in that area include TCU’s Kendre Miller, Spears, Auburn’s Tank Bigsby, ASU’s Valladay, Illinois’ Chase Brown and Pittsburgh’s Israel Abanikanda.

Miami has picks in the second round (51), third round (84) and the sixth and seventh rounds.

In the meantime, the Dolphins - and other teams - wait to see what the Vikings do with Cook.