As Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh pointed out on Wednesday, the team is always exploring options when it comes to free agency. Less than 24 hours later, it looks like the Patriots have a visit set up with the highest-profile player available on the market.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Patriots are in the process of “setting up a possible visit to New England” with four-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook. Cook, who turns 28 next month, has been a free agent since being released by the Minnesota Vikings in early June.
If the Patriots do get a meeting with Cook, it would be their second high-profile free agent meeting in just over a month. The team hosted DeAndre Hopkins in mid-June before he signed with the Tennessee Titans.
Cook will already be in the Northeast this weekend. He’s flying to New York on Thursday for a weekend meeting with the New York Jets, per NFL Network’s Tom Pellissero. There seems to be building competition within the AFC East for Cook, with rumors also linking him to the Miami Dolphins.