Cowboys Brandin Cooks Trade: Helps Patriots Acquire DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr.?
FOXBORO — Have the New England Patriots moved up a spot in the queue for acquiring a top-flight wide receiver in 2023?
With news of the Dallas Cowboys having surrendered a fifth-round pick in 2023 and sixth-round pick in 2024 for Houston Texans wideout Brandin Cooks on Sunday morning, the Pats find themselves in interesting circumstances.
Despite New England’s rumored interest in bringing the talented ex-Pat back for his second tour of duty in Foxboro, Cooks will remain the Lone Star state for the foreseeable future.
However, Dallas’ acquisition of Cooks may have an indirect impact on the Patriots.
How so?.
Cooks is set to make $18.5 million in 2023. Should the Cowboys decide to keep him in the fold for 2024, the 29-year old is currently in line to earn $16.5 million. Clearly, Dallas is willing to incur the expense for the upcoming season. Such a financial commitment also makes it more likely that they have bowed out of their pursuit for both Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins and free-agent wideout Odell Beckham, Jr.
Could the Patriots be the next man up?
Though time will ultimately tell the tale, New England has been heavily rumored to be in the mix for both players’ services.
Hopkins is a five-time Pro Bowler and has also been named to five All-Pro teams throughout his 10-year career. He has topped the 1,000 receiving yards mark in six of those seasons, with 71 total touchdown receptions. In fact, some of Hopkins’ greatest successes on a football field came while being coached by new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien during their tenure with the Houston Texans.
Despite numerous rumors suggesting a contentious relationship between the pair, reports have suggested that both O’Brien and Hopkins may not be opposed to working together again.
If traded, Hopkins’ new team would be set to absorb salary cap hits of $19.45 million in 2023 and $14.915 million in 2024. With New England currently fielding in excess of $15.4 million in available cap space heading into the new work week, adding Hopkins to the Foxboro fold will require some creative fiscal management.
Still, Hopkins is not the only prolific pass-catcher in the crosshairs of Patriots Nation.
Beckham, who has been a potential Pats target for several seasons, is expected to make a decision on a new football home in the coming days.
The three-time Pro Bowler was sidelined for the 2022 season while removing from an ACL tear suffered during the Rams’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI.
Based on his performance during a recent workout in Arizona — for which the Patriots had representation in attendance — any questions on the 30-year-old’s physical capabilities.
To his credit, when Beckham is dialed in, there are few talents in the league at his position that can match his athleticism and big-play ability. Throughout his nine-year NFL career, Beckham has compiled 7367 yards on 531 catches, 56 of which have gone for touchdowns. His late-season arrival in Los Angeles last season helped him regain his superstar-level form while on the big stage. In the NFC Championship, Beckham caught nine passes for 113 yards in the Rams’ 20-17 comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers. Prior to sustaining his injury early in the first half, he had two receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown in L.A.’s win over the Bengals in the Super Bowl.
Like Hopkins, Beckham’s services are not expected to come cheap. Still, the dynamic wideout was careful to set the record straight on the difference between his asking price and his present market value.
In response, Patriots linebacker — and moonlighting, pseudo-GM — Matthew Judon made his pitch for Beckham’s services.
While few would classify the Pats’ spending habits as extravagant, the team is not averse to investing in talent for the right return on investment. New England has demonstrated such motivation in the first week of NFL free agency with the additions of receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, running back James Robinson and tight end Mike Gesicki.
Each of the Patriots project as comfortable fits within coordinator Bill O’Brien’s preferred offense, predicated on ball protection, efficient running and spreading the ball to multiple pass catchers. Still, the Pats are still expected to pursue a true ‘WR1’ to considerably help quarterback Mac Jones.
If Dallas is indeed “out” on either Hopkins or Beckham (or both), New England faces one less formidable level of competition in their quest.
Sometimes all it takes is a domino to fall.
Cooks deal with the Cowboys might just be the catalyst to put the wheels in significant motion.
Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots
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