Todd ArcherESPN staff writer3 minute chapter
How the Cowboys landed Brandin Cooks
Jeremy Fowler discusses how the Brandin Cooks trade between Dallas and the Houston Texans came to fruition after two and a half months of interest.
FRISCO, Texas – Looking to add speed and complement Pro Bowler CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas Cowboys will acquire Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks for a fifth-round pick in 2023 and a sixth-round pick in 2024, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy. Fowler and Adam Schefter.
The Cowboys and Texans discussed a deal before last year’s trade deadline, but were unable to come to an agreement.
Cooks’ $18 million salary in 2023 is guaranteed. Cooks restructured his contract on Saturday with Houston paying $6 million of his salary this season and Dallas paying the remaining $12 million, sources told ESPN. He has a contract until 2024.
“Blessed and can’t wait to be special to a star! Very grateful to the Jones family for this opportunity for my family and me,” Cooks said in a text message to ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime.
Last year, the Cowboys traded Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick, but only added veteran James Washington in free agency and Jalen Tolbert in the third round as a replacement. Washington suffered a broken leg in training camp and went just two games without a catch before being released. Tolbert caught just two passes as a rookie.
Michael Gallup returned from a torn ACL in his left knee, and vice president Stephen Jones said it was “probably fair” to criticize the Cowboys for not doing enough to replace Cooper.
In Cooks, the Cowboys get a speed threat to pair with Lamb and Gallup, who the organization believes will be much better after his second major surgery.
Cooks, 29, has spoken out about his accident in Houston, saying he didn’t want to be part of the rebuild. He caught 57 passes for 699 yards and three scores in 13 games last season with the Texans.
During his career with the Texans, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, he has 630 receptions for 8,616 yards and 49 touchdowns.
This is the fourth time he has been traded in his career.
The Cooks signing is the second big trade the Cowboys have made in the past week. Dallas also acquired cornerback Stephon Gilmore from the Indianapolis Colts for a fifth-round pick (No. 176 overall).
The Cowboys have built their roster through the draft, avoiding major free agent signings. They now have one pick each round. They had three fifth-round picks after the bonus picks were announced, but have since dealt two of them.