Texans give Cowboys big break in Brandin Cooks trade
In more ways than one.
Are the Dallas Cowboys finally figuring this off-season thing out?
They are doing everything to do so that's for sure, and that was proven after they traded for wide receiver Brandin Cooks on Sunday.
This move was a steal for the Cowboys, and here's how.
Cooks' salary of $18 million for 2023 is fully guaranteed. However, he reconstructed his deal on Saturday so the Texans will pay $6 million of his salary this season and the Cowboys will pay the remaining $12 million, per Todd Archer of ESPN.
That's not the only win for the Cowboys in this trade.
Cooks gives the Cowboys a much-needed upgrade at the receiver spot, especially when considering what happened in 2022 when it came to the aerial assault in Dallas.
CeeDee Lamb was a stud last season with 1,359 yards on 107 receptions with nine scores. Outside of that, roll out the comedy reels because that's what the receiving corp was for the Cowboys.
Noah Brown was the most productive receiver for Dallas outside of Lamb with 43 receptions for 555 yards. Michael Gallup came back from a torn ACL after nine months. While commendable, he was not the same player, and he managed just 424 yards and four touchdowns.
Behind Brown and Gallup only one receiver had more than 100 yards for the Cowboys and that was T.Y. Hilton (121). Putrid, to say the least.
Cooks, even at nearly 30 years old, still has dangerous speed in the open field, something the Cowboys have desperately needed for years at wide receiver. He can spread defenses out with his speed rather it be in the vertical passing game or horizontally with crossing routes or speed outs.
The former first-round pick has plenty of versatility to his game as he's made plays from the outside and in the slot during his first nine seasons which helps take some of that responsibility off of Lamb. Simply put, Cooks has a chance to help the Cowboys in a multitude of ways.
Then, there's the NFL draft.
Dallas was certainly in a position to get one of the premium receivers coming out of college with the 26th overall pick. Not to say that the Cowboys shouldn't snag another weapon in the passing game come April, because they should. However, taking the best player available is a much more plausible strategy now, and they can fill other needs earlier with Cooks on the roster.
This was another brilliant move by the much-maligned Cowboys front office on top of acquiring cornerback Stephon Gilmore earlier in the week via trade from the Indianapolis Colts.
