TRADED Texans trade WR Brandin Cooks to Cowboys

[Risen Star]

I see a lot of whining by folks re: Cooks and they point to his stats last year without context and dismiss his six 1,000+ yard seasons as old news.

Yet, they wanted to trade for Hopkins, a guy who’s older than Cooks; slower/possession guy (not what we need); hasn’t put up a 1,000 yard season since 2020; caught just 18 yards more than Cook last year (same # of TDs), and recently came off suspension for PEDs.

All that, and you’d likely have to trade much higher draft capital and sign him to a more pricey and longer extension.

Lunacy.

He played 19 games combined those two years and a month less games than Cooks last year while still having more yards.

That's kind of important to note.

There isn't a GM in the league who thinks Cooks is better.

 

[USArmyVet]

Why are you making ridiculous accusations? Seriously? Is this how you defend overpaying for a soon to be 30 year old who has lots of wear-n-tear by acting up and making ridiculous accusations? I hate seeing you act like the Dak haters. Be better than that. Sheesh, bro.

I was preferring the Cowboys would have gone after someone like Darius Slayton who is only 26 years old and has much less mileage. He did run a 4.39 40 back in his combine days, and he is 6'1", 195 lbs, so he still can be a good #3. Giants resigned him on a very good contract deal (2 years for $12 mil total. That's still half a mil less than what the Cowboys are going to pay the 30 year old Cooks just for this year alone. You do know Brandin Cooks salary jumps to $16+ mil next year, right???).

DJ Chark is still available. 6'4", 220 lbs, 26 years old, ran a 4.34 40 during his combine days, has little mileage and can be a good #3 for cheap as well...somewhere around $6 mil/year similar to Darius Slayton. But, nah, let's get short 30+ old receivers with lots of wear-n-tear who we also have to pay lots of money to. That sounds better to you?

I could be wrong but I thought Slayton had issues with the drops as I recall a pivotal drop in the playoff game against the Vikings. While the Giants won that game, I worry that Slayton has some issues with his hands.

As for Chark, spotrac has his market value listed at around $9.5M/year but no telling what the market dictates. He showed something back in 2019 with his 1,000+ yard season but has not been able to repeat that season while also missing quite a few games. Also of concern, like Slayton, is his drop % as it went from 2.2% in 2020 all the way up to 9.6% in 2022.

With similar contract expectations, I would have rather Dallas go after Mecole Hardman than Cooks (or Slayton and Chark) as he offers not only receiving skills but also return skills as well.

Regardless, Dallas traded for Cooks and that is probably an end to what they will do with the WR position in terms of trades/free agents.

 

[gimmesix]

DJ Chark is still available. 6'4", 220 lbs, 26 years old, ran a 4.34 40 during his combine days, has little mileage and can be a good #3 for cheap as well...somewhere around $6 mil/year similar to Darius Slayton. But, nah, let's get short 30+ old receivers with lots of wear-n-tear who we also have to pay lots of money to. That sounds better to you?

That's fine if you like Chark better, but there's no evidence that Chark would be better. In fact, it isn't even close between them careerwise. Chark has had one 1,000-yard season in five seasons. Even last year, which is the only one over the last three years where Cooks has had fewer than 1,000 yards, he still outperformed Chark.

Again, if you prefer Chark, there's nothing wrong with that. I just don't see the need to criticize a player who has had a much better career and who doesn't appear to be slowing down very much.

 

[phildadon86]

I have absolutely no idea what that 'sentence' is supposed to mean.

I would screenshot it for you. But you would deflect. As always. So I am not going to waste my time.

Just know that what you did was very hypocritical.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Why are you making ridiculous accusations? Seriously? Is this how you defend overpaying for a soon to be 30 year old who has lots of wear-n-tear by acting up and making ridiculous accusations? I hate seeing you act like the Dak haters. Be better than that. Sheesh, bro.

I was preferring the Cowboys would have gone after someone like Darius Slayton who is only 26 years old and has much less mileage. He did run a 4.39 40 back in his combine days, and he is 6'1", 195 lbs, so he still can be a good #3. Giants resigned him on a very good contract deal (2 years for $12 mil total. That's still half a mil less than what the Cowboys are going to pay the 30 year old Cooks just for this year alone. You do know Brandin Cooks salary jumps to $16+ mil next year, right???).

DJ Chark is still available. 6'4", 220 lbs, 26 years old, ran a 4.34 40 during his combine days, has little mileage and can be a good #3 for cheap as well...somewhere around $6 mil/year similar to Darius Slayton. But, nah, let's get 30+ old receivers with lots of wear-n-tear who we also have to pay lots of money to. That sounds better to you?

I didn’t make any accusations I’m asking you a question. Trying to understand your POV…..

And yeah I can’t get behind inferior guys to Cooks. Chark and Slayton? Naw…you care more about 40 times than production it seems. Just disagree here. I need a dog. A leader. A vertical threat. Someone who shows up when it matters. He checks all the boxes. They can release or do something with Cooks contracts his money shouldn’t be a issue for this team.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

That's fine if you like Chark better, but there's no evidence that Chark would be better. In fact, it isn't even close between them careerwise. Chark has had one 1,000-yard season in five seasons. Even last year, which is the only one over the last three years where Cooks has had fewer than 1,000 yards, he still outperformed Chark.

Again, if you prefer Chark, there's nothing wrong with that. I just don't see the need to criticize a player who has had a much better career and who doesn't appear to be slowing down very much.

I’m not gonna lie I get the D Hop and OBJ crowd because they are big names but the DJ Chark crowd is losing me.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

He played 19 games combined those two years and a month less games than Cooks last year while still having more yards.

That's kind of important to note.

There isn't a GM in the league who thinks Cooks is better.

Oh, so you want context to explain away Hopkins lack of recent production but don’t want to hear it for Cooks?

There’s not a GM that think Davis Mills, Kyle Allen, and Jeff Driskel are better Murray.

Nobody is arguing Cooks > Hopkins

However, you acting like Cooks is a scrub and then citing stats without context amounts to mindless whining.

 

[America's Cowboy]

I could be wrong but I thought Slayton had issues with the drops as I recall a pivotal drop in the playoff game against the Vikings. While the Giants won that game, I worry that Slayton has some issues with his hands.

As for Chark, spotrac has his market value listed at around $9.5M/year but no telling what the market dictates. He showed something back in 2019 with his 1,000+ yard season but has not been able to repeat that season while also missing quite a few games. Also of concern, like Slayton, is his drop % as it went from 2.2% in 2020 all the way up to 9.6% in 2022.

With similar contract expectations, I would have rather Dallas go after Mecole Hardman than Cooks (or Slayton and Chark) as he offers not only receiving skills but also return skills as well.

Regardless, Dallas traded for Cooks and that is probably an end to what they will do with the WR position in terms of trades/free agents.

You're right on all points.

 

[Risen Star]

Oh, so you want context to explain away Hopkins lack of recent production but don’t want to hear it for Cooks?

There’s not a GM that think Davis Mills, Kyle Allen, and Jeff Driskel are better Murray.

Nobody is arguing Cooks > Hopkins

However, you acting like Cooks is a scrub and then citing stats without context amounts to mindless whining.

I'm sighting stats with no context when you just referenced Hopkins only having a few more yards last year while forgetting to say he played 4 less games? That's rich.

I didn't realize Hopkins played with great QBs down there in Arizona.

You have to add things to what I say. I never said Cooks is a scrub. I said he's not Hopkins. I want the better player. I don't want to settle. The front office settled. Because it was cheap.

 

[gimmesix]

I’m not gonna lie I get the D Hop and OBJ crowd because they are big names but the DJ Chark crowd is losing me.

I was all for Chark or Hardman because I felt that's the best we could hope for. Cooks is on a similar level to Hopkins and OBJ, especially at this point in their careers. And we got him for a fifth this year and sixth next year and for $12.5 million this year. We should be celebrating that.

 

[USArmyVet]

You're right on all points.

Okay, I am now waiting for the rivers to turn blood red and the locust to arrive given we have actually agreed on something.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

I'm sighting stats with no context when you just referenced Hopkins only having a few more yards last year while forgetting to say he played 4 less games? That's rich.

I didn't realize Hopkins played with great QBs down there in Arizona.

You have to add things to what I say. I never said Cooks is a scrub. I said he's not Hopkins. I want the better player. I don't want to settle. The front office settled. Because it was cheap.

Yeah, you were citing stats without context.

Don’t play coy now. You literally brought up Cooks 2022 stats to shade him and offered no further context.

I’m no fan of Kyler Murray, but to act like there’s not a gulf in talent/performance between he and Davis Mills, Kyle Allen, and Jeff Driskel is pure comedy.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I was all for Chark or Hardman because I felt that's the best we could hope for. Cooks is on a similar level to Hopkins and OBJ, especially at this point in their careers. And we got him for a fifth this year and sixth next year and for $12.5 million this year. We should be celebrating that.

I’m not against Chark and Hardman. I like both. But not over Cooks.

 

[Risen Star]

Yeah, you were citing stats without context.

Don’t play coy now. You literally brought up Cooks 2022 stats to shade him and offered no further context.

I’m no fan of Kyler Murray, but to act like there’s not a gulf in talent/performance between he and Davis Mills, Kyle Allen, and Jeff Driskel is pure comedy.

So the guy who referenced their total yardage and not their total games played is accusing me of citing stats without context.

Take a moment to appreciate that hypocrisy.

And look, he did it again. He wants to pretend Hopkins played his 9 total games with Kyler Murray. But let's look at stats with context.

QBs for the 9 games Hopkins played
Kyler Murray 4
Colt McCoy 3
Trace McSorley 1
And one game split between McCoy and McSorley.

Context. You should try it sometime.

 

[fifaguy]

Cooks has got to be the most traded player of all time

Read a stat that Cooks is only the 3rd player to be traded 4x in nfl history.

 

[CalPolyTechnique]

This guy sux apparently…

 

[boysfanindc]

This guy sux apparently…

Yup, not a deep threat at all.

 

[Strol]

Because we are trading for a “name” at this point. Maybe if we lived in 2018 this trade would be more exciting… but a player who has played for 4 teams in 9 years? At 18 mil a year for a 9 year vet on the downside of his career?

Nah. Doesn’t blow me away. I’m glad it’s only a 5th and a 6th— at least we didn’t get fleeced in the trade— but I am afraid this trade removes WR “off the list” and this FO will consider the WR problem “resolved”.

You completely ignored the part about him always being productive. He had 1,000 yards in 2021, and 2020. Last year he barley played and almost had 700. What more can you ask from a FA WR addition? Sorry you aren't blown away.

 

[Rockport]

He is good at producing trades

Well you haters gonna always hate so color me shocked.

 

[gimmesix]

And now his cap hit for this year is just $6 million.