Brandin Cooks could be traded

Brandin Cooks didn’t seem happy to be in Houston last season. The Texans’ star wide receiver reportedly hoped the team could trade him before the deadline, as he does not want to be a part of an NFL rebuild. A recent report revealed Cooks’ name generated buzz in the offseason trade market.

One can’t blame Cooks for wanting out of town. Cooks, who is 29 years old, finds himself more toward the end of his career as an NFL wide receiver than at the beginning. He joined the Texans at their peak in 2020 when Deshaun Watson was considered the franchise quarterback. Cooks has been stuck with Davis Mills for two seasons.

According to DJ Bien-Aime with ESPN, Cooks hinted after Texans head coach Smith was fired that he wanted to leave the Texans:

“I’m not looking at it as far as being a part of a rebuild, however that looks,” Cooks said. “That’s why I trust my camp and my representation to be able to get a map from here to there and to see what that looks like to be a part of something that has a trusted plan.”

“Here” doesn’t seem to be anything more than a rebuild. The Texans know they need another quarterback to make the Texans competitive. It’s unclear if the Texans plan to splurge on a top quarterback in this year’s draft or wait until next year after they add a few more key pieces to the team. Either way, it’s unlikely Cooks would want to be paired with C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young in 2023.

Cooks is a trade target

According to a report by Aaron Wilson with KPRC, there is “plenty of interest” from other NFL teams in trading for Cooks. The Texans and Cooks representation have a dialogue about the potential trade, but no deal is about to happen immediately. It is known that Cooks wants to join a playoff contender in 2023.

No deal imminent or developing, sources emphasized, but there's plenty of interest in #Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks via a potential trade. Cooks has reiterated this offseason his desire to change teams and join a playoff contender. Process continues @KPRC2 https://t.co/PtIprod5bF

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) February 28, 2023

The Texans should get what they can from Brandin Cooks

We’ll see if the two parties can get a deal done in the spring. The Texans should get what they can for Cooks as they look to rebuild in Houston. Cooks is wasting his career with the Texans. The franchise is burning money and a roster spot for a premium player that can’t help the team in a playoff run with the pieces on their roster for the foreseeable future. Cooks managed just 699 yards receiving last season with three touchdown receptions.