The Cleveland Browns should sign running back Dalvin Cook, who was just released by the New York Jets.
Outside of a few brief shining moments, the Cleveland Browns rushing attack has left a lot to be desired in 2023. The absence of the best running back in the game in the form of Nick Chubb has been apparent with the team failing to establish any type of consistency over the regular season. In fact, the unit ranks 18th in rush success rate (38.5 percent) and 19th in EPA per rush (-0.119). Not terrible numbers, but nothing compared to what this offense has been capable of in the past.
As such, Andrew Berry should strongly consider adding recently released veteran Dalvin Cook, who is familiar with head coach Kevin Stefanski from their time with the Minnesota Vikings.
Before we get into Cook, I think is is important to take a brief look at the statistics and rankings of the current running back room on a player-by-player basis (rankings are among 62 qualifiers at the position):
Jerome Ford- 58th in total EPA (-35.14), 28th in yards after contact per attempt (2.94), 14th in explosive run rate (8 percent), 2nd-highest tackle for loss percentage (16.6 percent). Ford has been the definition of boom or bust this season.
Kareem Hunt- 22nd in total EPA (-4.94), 62nd in yards after contact per attempt (2.17), 61st in explosive run rate (1.5 percent), 38th in tackle for loss percentage (9.4 percent). Hunt has been valuable in short-yardage situations, but does not offer much explosion in yards after the carry.
Pierre Strong does not meet the minimum carry threshold, but it is worth mentioning that he has totaled 226 yards on 49 attempts (4.6 yards per carry). He does not offer much in the passing game at this point in his career.
For a more visual representation of running back efficiency in 2023:
The Browns offensive line ranks 21st in Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade, while the Joel Bitonio-Ethan Pocic-Wyatt Teller-Geron Christian-James Hudson combination is 14th in EPA over average. Offensive line Bill Callahan would be the first to tell you that the front-five could use some improvement from a blocking perspective, but a talented (and proven) veteran could also help the success of the group.
Now, moving onto Cook. While he may not be the player of yesteryear, he still provides value at a position for which the Browns could use improvement. He is coming off of four-straight 1,000+ yard rushing seasons, including a 2022 season where he totaled 1,173 yards and 4.44 yards per carry (albeit with an accompanying bottom-tier 34.1 success rate).
This season, he has rushed behind a Jets offensive line that is ranked dead-last overall by Pro Football Focus. By no means is that an excuse for his lack of output (last among running backs in EPA per rush), but context is always needed when it comes to individual performance.
In 2023, he has toted the rock just 67 times, so he should have rather fresh legs that could be of use to a Browns team that has been riddled with injuries across the board. This is a team poised to make a playoff run and Cook’s abilities should be a welcome addition to a passing game that has been humming with Joe Flacco at quarterback. That’s not to say that Cook will come in and be the second coming of Jim Brown, or even an upper-echelon player, but he should improve the Browns rotation at the position. His familiarity with the offense should allow him to hit the ground running (pun intended) and move the needle a little bit as we head into meaningful January and dare I say, February football.
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