Dalvin vs. Zeke: What's Cowboys Free Agent 'Visit' Mean?

It has been an interesting start of the week for the Dallas Cowboys, with CeeDee Lamb signing his monster contract extension. Then hot on the heels of that, a rather interesting Monday nugget of information.

The Cowboys are bringing in veteran running back Dalvin Cook for a visit to the Star.

Now, there are a couple of ways to look at this. One is the Cowboys aren't entirely convinced of the current crop of backs on their roster. Two is that Dallas wants a meet and greet to see where Cook is physically and gauge where he's at.

Of course, Cook is over the Cowboys' famous CowboysCountry-unearthed threshold for running backs (28 years old is when Dallas, through its own research, determined that a back's production falls away) as he is 29 years old.

So, while the initial reaction to the news that Cook will visit Dallas could be eyebrow-raising, given roster cuts are happening all around the league as we speak, it also makes us wonder what it could mean for the current crop of backs on the roster.

Nathaniel Peat has already been released, and with Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Malik Davis, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke (fullback), and Royce Freeman making up the room, perhaps Dallas isn't too confident in the group.

Cook, who had a poor year by any measure last season with the New York Jets (67 attempts, 214 yards before being released) and Baltimore Ravens as his only snaps came in the playoffs (8 attempts, 23 yards), surely isn't seen as a "needle-mover" if he were to sign in Dallas ... right?

He's "different'' than Zeke, but is he better? The experience he brings could be useful and he might have chip on his shoulder after a down season. ... but again, doesn't Elliott already offer all of those traits?

Related: Cowboys Visit with RB Dalvin Cook; Zimmer Endorsement?

It is only a visit thus far, so it's no use getting too caught up in the what-ifs of Cooks signing with the Cowboys, but it is an interesting thought. It seems viable that Dallas will get through its Tuesday cuts before making a commitment here - so let's just call this a get-to-know-you visit for the moment.