Source: Texans 'Taking Trade Calls' on WR Brandin Cooks; Cowboys Bidding?
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys coveted receiver Brandin Cooks of the Houston Texans at last October's NFL trade deadline.
Now, as the league's new year begins, a source tells CowboysSI.com that Houston is "taking trade calls'' on the veteran speedster.
And if Dallas wanted in last October, it would make sense that Dallas is at least in the process of picking up that phone again.
A source told us in October that "we were close'' to a Texans and Cowboys deal. However, issues tied to Cooks' $18 million guaranteed 2023 year on the veteran receiver's contract created an obstacle that prevented a potential deal from happening.
It was "complicated,'' a source said to us then.
It is less so now, with Cooks having that base salary of $18 million for 2023 and with some breathing room to possibly massage that.
But the essence is this (with a hat-tip to colleague @TexansCap): Cooks’ new team would take on initial cap charge of $18,382,353 for 2023. …. And a $16.5m cap charge in 2024 ($16.5m cash).
That’s not exorbitant.
Houston would however by left with $16.2 million in a dead money charge for 2023. … and the Texans would obviously like a trade that compensates them for that in some way.
What would a potential trade look like between the two? In October, the centerpiece was Dallas giving up a second-round pick, we were told. Now there is speculation that the Texans - willing to move on while also "doing right'' by Cooks, as it has been put to us - might accept a fourth-round pick.
Cooks, 29, would add even more firepower to a Dallas offense that, via a pledge from COO Stephen Jones, is planning on adding "playmaking juice.''
During the 2022 season with the Texans, Cooks ended up catching 57 passes for 699 yards and three touchdowns - a down year for him as he had previously reached 1000 yards in six of his last seven seasons before a disappointing 2022.
If Dallas thought a second-rounder was fair in October, it makes sense that something less than that is doable now. The Texans phone is ringing ...
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