2017 NFL Draft: Dalvin Cook says he’s “become a better person”

Florida State running back Dalvin Cook is spending the days leading up to the draft confronting the character concerns that plague him.

Dalvin Cook is undoubtedly one of the most talented running backs in the 2017 NFL Draft class. His athleticism and vision has been compared to former Kansas City Chiefs great Jamaal Charles. Unfortunately, the Florida State player has a rather long history of bad decisions off of the field, leading many scouts to wonder whether or not Cook is worthy of the risk given that more money and more freedom might only bring more problems along the way.

From being charged with robbery in high school to animal cruelty to unlawful possession and discharge of a firearm to a more recent misdemeanor battery charge from 2015, Cook’s history is certainly suspect. Perhaps that’s why he’s on the offensive, to get in the open and discuss his past in the present. For teams who are reticent to take Cook in the draft, it might help to hear how he’s owning his decisions from years gone by.

It should also be noted, for Cook’s sake, that in most instances, the charges before him were dropped for one reason or another. Could it be that Cook’s role as a great athlete has worked in his favor? Perhaps. But there are plenty of players in the NFL Draft class who come with much greater sins on their record.

Last season, Cook rushed 288 times for 1,765 yards and 17 touchdowns, good for a 6.1 yards/carry average.