If TE Jared Cook is Available, Miami Dolphins Should Go After Him

I know we are hearing that the Miami Dolphins are likely to re-up with tight end Anthony Fasano and have the same 2013 tight end scenario as they had in 2012, but I am hoping that is just because GM Jeff Ireland either wants to drive down a certain free-agent tight ends price, and/or he is waiting/hoping to see a tight end that currently looks like he may become a salary cap casualty (Jermichael Finley for example). Now there are reports that the Tennessee Titans may not be applying their franchise tag to tight end Jared Cook which would surely mean that Cook at the Titans are going to part ways.

The 6’4” 250 pounder was very underwhelmed and upset with the Titans 2012 offense and I would think that a franchise tag would be the only way he would return to the Titans, and if he does become a free-agent then I am very hopeful that the Dolphins will kick his tires and look into purchasing his services going forward. For the Titans to franchise Cook would mean paying a potentially disgruntled player $6 million (that is the price-tag to franchise a tight end in 2013) so I can see why the Titans may just feel that they will bite the bullet and let Cook leave. The four year man and former South Carolina Gamecocks player would have several suitors as he will be just 26 next season and many think that he has a big future (myself included) but the Dolphins salary cap situation makes them a player for any free-agent they want to target and guys that want to get paid will have Miami on their radar.

The St. Louis Rams have money to spend and I am sure Jeff Fisher is aware of Cook’s upside so if the Dolphins do want to pursue Cook they will have legit competition, but this young man has 93 catches the last two seasons (just for comparison I will mention that in the same span Fasano had 73) and he can make big plays on third down, plus I think he is going to get 8-10 touchdowns annually going forward. I like this guy’s future quite a bit, and I think he could be great for years to come with Ryan Tannehill. If Cook gets the franchise tag applied to him then case closed, but I am hoping the latest rumors are true and he and the Titans will soon part ways leaving him up for grabs.

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Craig Ballard is a NFL/NBA/MLB writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow  him on Twitter @craigballard77, and you can find all of his NFL articles HERE