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Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Georgia running back James Cook
The lightning portion of the “Thunder & Lightning” combo at Georgia, James Cook will look to bring his brand of electricity to the next level as one of the most explosive running backs in the 2022 NFL draft.
Here is everything you need to know about the Bulldogs’ big-play machine:
Dane Brugler has released his 7-round mock draft and in it, the New York Giants get the best projected haul we’ve seen yet.
Three edge rushers go off the board over the first four picks in Dane Brugler’s latest mock draft for The Athletic, which certainly thins things out for the New York Giants.
With offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu also going to the Houston Texans at No. 4 overall, it leaves the Giants with few ideal options. But one of those just so happens to be Alabama offensive tackle Evan Neal.
Regardless of what happens with the first four picks, the organization and first-year general manager Joe Schoen have to feel good about what will be left for them at No. 5. Neal offers outstanding flexibility, both as a 340-pound blocker and with his versatility to play right tackle or guard.
As anticipated, the Carolina Panthers then select a quarterback (Pittsburgh’s Kenny Pickett), leaving the Giants with a choice between Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner and Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.
They choose the sauce.
If the Giants are unable to trade back and add draft assets for next year, a plug-and-play blocker at No. 5 and shut down corner at No. 7 feels like the ideal scenario for Schoen and the Giants. Gardner has the length, speed and confidence that should translate well to the pro game.
In Round 2, Brugler sees the Giants add to their pass rush with the selection of Penn State’s Arnold Ebiketie.
From there, the Giants make the following selections:
Arguably, this is the best seven-round mock draft we’ve seen for the Giants all year. It addresses most of their primary needs and many of their secondary needs, leaving them in much better shape than pre-draft. However, there’s no guarantee Belton will come in and have immediate impact and although intelligent, Gemmel doesn’t really provide the Giants the impact linebacker they are seeking.
But that’s the issue the Giants face — even with nine selections in the draft. Their roster is so thinned out that no matter how well they do in the draft, areas of need will remain.
Still, this draft would satisfy most Giants fans.
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The Broncos are taking a look at James Cook, the younger brother of star RB Dalvin Cook.
If the Denver Broncos do not re-sign Melvin Gordon, the team will probably select a running back during the NFL draft this month.
One of the top RBs in this year’s class is Georgia’s James Cook, and the Broncos are doing their homework. Cook has had (or soon will have) an official pre-draft visit with Denver, according to the Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline.
Cook is the younger brother of Minnesota Vikings star running back Dalvin Cook.
Playing in a shared backfield with Zamir White — who is also considered a top RB this year — Cook rushed 113 times for 728 yards and seven touchdowns last season. Cook also caught 27 passes for 284 yards and four scores in 2021, helping Georgia win a national championship.
Cook (5-11, 190 pounds) ran a 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds and posted a 33-inch vertical jump at the combine earlier this offseason. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein has compared Cook to Darrynton Evans, who was a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
Mock drafts expect Cook to go off the board sometime between the second and third rounds of the draft, where the Broncos currently own pick Nos. 64, 75 and 96. Rounds two and three will be held on April 29.
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The Patriots are meeting with Georgia running back James Cook this week.
The New England Patriots are scheduled to meet with Georgia running back James Cook this week, per Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network.
Cook was an all-purpose back for Georgia. He tallied 1,002 all-purpose yards and 11 all-purpose touchdowns in 15 games for the Bulldogs. Most draft projections have Cook as the fourth- or fifth-best running back in 2021 draft.
Cook recorded 1,503 rushing yards and 2,233 total scrimmage yards in four seasons at Georgia. He played a key role in helping Georgia win the national championship this past January, carrying the ball six times for 77 yards. He also caught two passes for 15 yards.
Cook could be an option for the Patriots, as Damien Harris enters a contract year. Depth is also a concern for the position. James White is recovering from a hip injury. Brandon Bolden left for Las Vegas via free agency. Newcomer Ty Montgomery is no sure thing to make the roster. With a few moving parts at the running back position, Cook could be a viable option to work with Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, White and Montgomery.
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Looking at the perfect mid/late-round running back fits for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2022 NFL draft
The Eagles currently have four running backs on the roster and the with the NFL draft fast approaching, the organization could choose to bypass adding another ball carrier.
If Howie Roseman chooses to replace Jordan Howard, there are several worthy candidates to join the depth chart, while not interfering with Kenneth Gainwell’s development as a second-year player.
With Miles Sanders entering the final year of his rookie deal, here are the perfect mid to late-round running back fits for the Eagles in this month’s draft.
The Bulldog was extremely efficient in his collegiate career.
As the Miami Dolphins continue preparing for the draft, a number of prospects have been reportedly visiting the team’s facility with the hopes that they may be drafted when the event begins.
One new name to add to the list is Georgia running back James Cook, brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin, who’s set to meet with the Dolphins on Friday, according to his agents.
Cook spent four seasons with the Bulldogs, totaling 1,503 yards and 14 touchdowns on 6.5 yards per carry. He also added 67 receptions for 730 yards and six touchdowns in the passing game during his collegiate career.
The 22-year-old has been mocked all over the place this year. Depending on what experts you read, he could go as high as the second round or slide to the fourth. This means he could be available when the Dolphins are on the clock at No. 102 or No.125.
Prior to the start of the offseason, running back could’ve been considered one of Miami’s top needs, but with the signing of Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert, it isn’t as important that they draft one this season. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t look to add another and make the room even stronger.
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Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar analyzes the top 11 running backs in the 2022 NFL draft class.
Yesterday, Mark Schofield kicked off this year’s draft position rankings for Touchdown Wire with his Top 11 quarterbacks. Now, it’s time to get into the 11 best running backs in this class. And before we even start analyzing these backs, a few words on the “Running backs don’t matter” thing you hear all the time.
First of all, only a Sith deals in absolutes. Don’t be a Sith.
Second, there are all kinds of running backs for all types of schemes, and this particular class is as deep and varied as any I can remember in recent years. Each one of the 11 backs profiled here, and several others who just missed the cut, have the opportunity to “matter” in the NFL as they did in college.
When we say “Running backs don’t matter,” what we’re generally insinuating beyond the bumper-sticker sloganeering is the idea that it’s unwise to spend too much draft capital or free-agent money on any running back, because the position is fungible with very few exceptions. While that may be true for the rank and file, tell the Tennessee Titans that Derrick Henry doesn’t matter. Tell the Indianapolis Colts that Jonathan Taylor doesn’t matter. Once their coaches are done laughing, come back and we’ll continue.
At any level of football, running backs are like insurance. They don’t necessarily matter until they do, at which point, they REALLY matter.
When Henry missed nine games for the Titans last season due to injury, per Sports Info Solutions, Tennessee’s Offensive EPA dropped from 0.08 to -0.1, their Passing EPA went from 0.15 to -0.11, and their Rushing EPA plummeted from 0.03 to -0.09. The mere threat of Henry on the field changed the structure and complexion of the Titans’ offense, and how defenses dealt with that offense. Tennessee went with a lot more 11 personnel with Henry off the field, the favored 12 personnel packages went out the window, they faced fewer stacked boxes, and the reliance was more on quarterback Ryan Tannehill than it obviously would have been for the team’s actual field-tilter on that side of the ball. Henry also covered any gaps in the quality of Tennessee’s offensive line, and that’s another attribute common among the best backs throughout pro football history.
Henry, Taylor, and that rare ilk represent the true franchise-defining backs, and there are never more than a small handful at any given time, but the point is that such players still do exist, and even the best role-players in committees make differences well ahead of the norm.
Each of the 11 backs profiled in this year’s rankings has something special to offer, so let’s get down to extrapolating their best, and most questionable, traits to the NFL.
(All advanced metrics courtesy of Pro Football Focus and Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise indicated. All testing data comes from the 2022 scouting combine, with percentile per position, courtesy of MockDraftable.com).
Cook’s versatility will make him an attractive addition to any NFL backfield, and many scouts believe he’s underrated due to his lack of statistics from the last four years.
James Cook hails from the Georgia Running Back Factory that served up D’Andre Swift, Sony Michel, Nick Chubb, and Todd Gurley in recent drafts. He also is the younger brother of Dalvin Cook, so he has the genetics and pedigree to be an NFL running back. Cook was the third-ranked running back in the 2018 recruiting class, and teammate Zamir White was the first-ranked. Just being a Georgia running back says a lot.
But they used a committee backfield, and Cook had minor playing time for the first three seasons. He played behind D’Andre Swift, Elijah Holyfield, and Zamir White until his senior year, when he started several games in a timeshare with White, and Cook saw his busiest season as a receiver while the Bulldogs won the Orange Bowl over Michigan and then a national championship versus Alabama.
Cook’s best game was in the 2021 Orange Bowl when he ran for 32 yards on six carries and then caught four passes for 112 yards and a score. He later rushed for 77 yards on six carries and caught two passes for 15 yards in the championship against the Crimson Tide.
Height: 5-11
Weight: 190 pounds
40 time: 4.42
Cook was always productive when given a chance but was little used in the Georgia committee backfield until last season when he finally came close to the same touches as White. He’s expected to be a Day 2 pick in the second or third round, which speaks to his potential more than his past production.
Table: James Cook NCAA stats (2018-21)
| Year | School | Games | Runs | Yards | Avg. | TD | Catch | Yards. | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Georgia | 10 | 41 | 284 | 6.9 | 0 | 8 | 89 | 0 |
| 2019 | Georgia | 13 | 31 | 188 | 6.1 | 0 | 16 | 132 | 0 |
| 2020 | Georgia | 8 | 45 | 303 | 6.7 | 2 | 16 | 225 | 0 |
| 2021 | Georgia | 15 | 113 | 728 | 6.4 | 4 | 27 | 284 | 0 |
Pros
Cook has the build and a resume to show that he’s well-suited to a role as a pass-catching back, but he’s not just a third-down player. His size may limit his rushing role, but he has plenty of moves and enough speed to do damage as a running back as well. He may not move the pile, but his quick feet and change-of-direction skills will be useful in the NFL as a runner, if only as a complement to a primary rusher.
As with any running back, his fantasy value will depend mostly on his opportunities. Cook has low mileage, but he spent four years with one of the elite college programs and comes off a national championship. He can contribute as a rookie though he’ll be drafted mostly as a secondary back or even depth until the depth chart opens up enough to get him on the field consistently. Cook can be a factor on all three downs.
Cook’s versatility will make him an attractive addition to any NFL backfield, and many scouts believe he’s underrated due to his lack of statistics from the last four years.
His fantasy value will spike if he lands on a team that relies heavily on running backs as receivers. He’s likely not as productive as Alvin Kamara but shares much of the same skillset. He’ll appeal more in leagues with reception points and could play as a third-down back as early as this year. But he carries the potential to be even more, so his dynasty value will be higher.
Cook to the Giants?
After a great career at Georgia, running back James Cook boosted his NFL draft stock with an impressive performance at the NFL combine.
A few weeks later, Georgia hosted its annual Pro Day on March 16, and one NFL team that was well-represented in Athens that day was the New York Giants, whose attendance was headlined by general manager Joe Schoen.
Matt Lombardo of GMEN HQ reports that the Giants “love” Cook — from their scouts all the way of up to Schoen himself.
“The Giants love James Cook,” a league source tells FanSided.
“The thing I like about him is he’s a solid change-of-pace guy,” an NFC Executive tells FanSided, on the condition of anonymity because he isn’t authorized to speak publicly on prospects. “He may not be a three-down back, but he runs hard and has a lot of talent.”
At the combine, Cook finished with the eighth best official 40-yard dash time among running backs at 4.42. In fact, Cook bested his brother, Dalvin Cook, in the event. Dalvin Cook was a second-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in the 2017 NFL draft. Dalvin Cook ran a 4.49 40-yard dash in the 2017 NFL combine.
Cook finished his Georgia career with 1,012 total yards, 11 touchdowns and a national championship. He was huge for the Bulldogs throughout the College Football Playoff and showed his versatility against Michigan, topping 100 receiving yards against the Wolverines.
From Giants Wire:
Although the Giants are open to trading Saquon Barkley, his market has not developed. If they can’t find a trade partner by late April and the early part of the 2022 NFL draft, he’s expected to remain in tow and start this coming season.
But that doesn’t mean the Giants won’t have to address the position.
Cook could quell some of those concerns for the Giants and even potentially play a significant role behind Barkley as a rookie. Early projections have him going anywhere from Round 3 to Round 5, so Schoen wouldn’t even need to burn any of his top draft capital in order to land him.
The New York Giants reportedly “love” RB James Cook, whom general manager Joe Schoen was on hand to see during Georgia’ Pro Day.
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When the University of Georgia held their Pro Day on March 16, the New York Giants were well-represented. Among those in attendance was general manager Joe Schoen.
At the time, rumors had begun to swirl that the Giants had their eye on running back James Cook. They were intrigued by his skillset and wanted a closer look.
As it turns out, the Giants really liked what they saw.
Matt Lombardo of GMEN HQ reports that the Giants “love” Cook — from their scouts all the way of up to Schoen himself.
“The Giants love James Cook,” a league source tells FanSided.
Cook, 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, rushed for 728 yards and seven touchdowns, while averaging 6.4 yards per carry as a senior for the National Champion Bulldogs last season.
“The thing I like about him is he’s a solid change-of-pace guy,” an NFC Executive tells FanSided, on the condition of anonymity because he isn’t authorized to speak publicly on prospects. “He may not be a three-down back, but he runs hard and has a lot of talent.”
Although the Giants are open to trading Saquon Barkley, his market has not developed. If they can’t find a trade partner by late April and the early part of the 2022 NFL draft, he’s expected to remain in tow and start this coming season.
But that doesn’t mean the Giants won’t have to address the position. After releasing Devontae Booker earlier this year, there is most certainly a need to add depth. The team also needs to concern themselves with the future of the position as Barkley’s status beyond 2022 is very much up in the air.
Cook could quell some of those concerns for the Giants and even potentially play a significant role behind Barkley as a rookie. Early projections have him going anywhere from Round 3 to Round 5, so Schoen wouldn’t even need to burn any of his top draft capital in order to land him.
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