Four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook has sent New York Jets fans into a frenzy after they spotted social media activity suggesting the free agent might be moving to MetLife Stadium.
Cook, 27, was released by the Minnesota Vikings on 9 June after six seasons with the team. They tried to facilitate a trade, but, with it already apparent they were willing to waive the player, those talks came to nothing.
The Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins are reportedly interested, with the South Florida native said to be keen on the latter. Suitors know it will take offers over $5 million annually to seal a deal.
Cook has already touted the idea of organizations pairing the running back with fellow free agent DeAndre Hopkins. Now the New York Jets, who have also been linked with Hopkins, are the subject of rumours surrounding Cook too.
The speculation stems from the accounts that Cook has been following on Twitter. As first flagged by Jets fans, the former Vikings player now follows New York Jets chairman, chief executive and co-owner Woody Johnson.
The American businessman, who purchased the Jets alongside brother Christopher in 2000, follows Cook on Twitter. Johnson follows just 74 accounts on the social media platform. Several fans have since been sharing their reactions to the potential of Cook becoming a Jet.
One replied: "I like it. Make it happen, Woody," while another added: "Depending on the deal, I’m down." Others are not quite as convinced, with some suggesting that re-signing Kwon Alexander and Quinnen Williams should be their offseason priorities over acquiring Cook.
Alexander agreed a one-year deal with the Jets and played in every game of last season, starting 12 of the 17 and totalling 69 tackles during the year. The one-time Pro Bowler remains a free agent.
With Williams, the team risk losing their defensive tackle if they cannot agree to a contract extension this offseason. The third overall pick from the 2019 draft is entering the fifth and final year of the rookie deal signed that same offseason.
Trading for Aaron Rodgers and that significant salary the quarterback brings onto their books makes the prospect of signing Alexander and Williams, plus Cook and potentially even Hopkins, all the more unlikely.
Any team willing to unite Cook and Hopkins appear to have the upper hand in these free agency stakes. As the former said earlier this week: "If we end up on the same roster, that would be something epic for the NFL.
"I know his mindset, and I done play against D-Hop a numerous amount of times. Cook continued: "I want to go win.
"Like I said, the money gonna come, and that's going to happen. But like, as far as going to lift that [Vince Lombardi] Trophy up, he got the same mindset as me."
