In a suggested trade scenario, one of the Dallas Cowboys’ more seasoned players would be traded.
The Cowboys would send wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Pittsburgh Steelers in return for a 2025 third-round draft pick, according to a proposed trade by Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report. One major reason for the Cowboys to dump Cooks’ $8 million basic salary for the 2024 season, according to Davenport, is that they need to make room in the salary cap for CeeDee Lamb’s forthcoming contract.
Cooks will soon finish the last year of a $39.6 million, two-year contract extension he previously inked with the Houston Texans.
However, Davenport notes, “trading Cooks after June 1 would clear $8 million off the Cowboys’ books—money that could be used to help extend Lamb.” Even though Cooks didn’t have a lot of yardage or catches in 2018, he still managed eight touchdowns and six seasons with 1,000 yards in the NFL. The best part is that Cooks is by far the most affordable wide receiver on this list.
Brandin Cooks Mentioned as Most ‘Realistic’ Option of Trade Targets
The 30-year-old Cooks is not only incredibly cheap, but Davenport also makes the case that, out of the six trade candidates he lists in his piece, Cooks is the most “realistic.” Famous receivers like Deebo Samuel, Tee Higgins, DK Metcalf, Brandon Aiyuk, and Courtland Sutton are all mentioned by Davenport in addition to Cooks.
Given that Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks is familiar with the experience of being dealt, Davenport speculates that this might be the most likely trade on the list.
As he begins his eleventh season of play, the 5-foot-10 Cooks is still a productive receiver. In his debut season in Dallas, he had eight touchdowns, which is the second-highest number of receiving touchdowns he has ever caught in a single season. Cooks’ 54 receptions for 657 receiving yards surpassed the 418 receiving yards of former Dallas receiver Michael Gallup, who only managed 34 receptions and 418 receiving yards. Cooks’ touchdown total ranks second among all Cowboys players.
The Steelers, who are looking for a new starting wide receiver after moving Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers, are regarded as a possible landing site. KOA’s Benjamin Allbright stated that the Steelers have made inquiries regarding Metcalf, Sutton, and Aiyuk.
On Tuesday, April 30, Allbright said, “They called about Aiyuk and Sutton and have been rebuffed, at least with opening talks.” “I spoke with DK, and I don’t think any trades would be made there until after June 1st, if any at all.”
Why the Cowboys Are Unlikely to Trade Brandin Cooks
From a salary cap perspective, dealing Cooks makes sense, but from a personnel perspective, it doesn’t make much sense. Dallas’ wide receiver depth chart is already thin, especially with Gallup no longer in the fold. As the No. 3 receiver, they’re hopeful Jalen Tolbert can finally make a breakthrough. Additionally, in the sixth round, they selected Ryan Flournoy, a wide receiver from Southeast Missouri State, with their lone draft pick.
It’s true that the Cowboys have exercised extreme caution this summer in terms of their free agent spending. This is because future contracts involving Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons, in addition to Lamb, are being planned for.
Even though the Steelers would love to add Cooks as a cheap No. 2 alternative to George Pickens, they shouldn’t count on the Cowboys to bite because Cooks will be an asset to Lamb in 2024.