3 Free Agents the Patriots Should Sign Before Mandatory Minicamp

As OTAs are underway, the New England Patriots and their fans are getting a better glimpse of what they might be able to expect out of this roster heading into the 2024 season. As the Patriots take the field down in Foxborough, real football feels closer and closer. New England's mandatory minicamp is slated for June 11-13, a rapidly approaching date that will be the next offseason benchmark to be crossed off as we inch towards Week 1.

Camp always allows certain players to turn heads and earn their spots, while there will also undoubtedly be some players who disappoint in camp. Any moves at this point will expectedly be around the margins, but those are the types of moves that can sometimes bring immense value.

Scouring the list of remaining free agents across the NFL landscape, there are some intriguing names who have yet to find a home for 2024. There are plenty of players with proven NFL resumes who look like they just might still have something in the tank. Here are three of those players that should have Eliot Wolf picking up the phone.

Dalvin Cook, Running Back

Dalvin Cook has once again found himself deep into the offseason with minimal interest in free agency. Rhamondre Stevenson is expected to see the lion's share of carries in New England, but he is coming off of a season-ending injury that forced him to miss the last five games of last season. The Patriots also picked up Antonio Gibson on a three-year deal back in March. Gibson will likely draw a more receiving-oriented role in the offense.

Cook averaged 1,256 yards per season from 2019-2022 with the Minnesota Vikings, but was released by Minnesota in June 2023 after refusing to take a salary cut. He signed with the AFC rival New York Jets but became frustrated with a lack of carries in New York, as Breece Hall commanded the majority of the snaps. The situation led to a "mutually agreed" parting of the ways and Cook ended up with the Baltimore Ravens, where he debuted in their AFC Divisional Round win over the Houston Texans.

Cook will need to accept that he won't have an RB1 role and make his peace with a lessened workload for this to work out, but creating some competition with a player who is only a year removed from four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons isn't a bad idea.