Texans Trading for Brandin Cooks Albatross Contract Only Makes DeAndre Hopkins Move Look Worse
By Mark Powell
Bill O'Brien is replacing DeAndre Hopkins by committee. On the surface, such a decision fits their narrative assuming those replacements are either rookies or low-priced veterans.
Instead, the Texans have spent a ton of money on Randall Cobb and have now traded for high-priced veteran Brandin Cooks, leading most Texans and NFL fans to wonder what the hell was the point here?
To make matters worse, the Texans are sending a second-round pick to Los Angeles, which was their primary form of draft compensation in the Hopkins trade. We cannot make this up.
The #Texans are sending a 2nd round pick to the #Rams in exchange for WR Brandin Cooks and a future fourth-round pick, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 9, 2020
Brandin Cooks Contract
Cooks' contract ties him to Houston through 2023, with a potential out in 2021. His cap hit this year alone is $16.8 million, and only goes up from there. In 2019, he had just 42 receptions for 583 yards.
This isn't to say Houston's receiving corps is poor -- it isn't. However, it'd be significantly better had they kept one of the best receivers in the NFL and just paid him his damn money. Instead, they acquired Cobb, who is arguably past his prime, and Cooks, whose failed experiment in Los Angeles made his contract unthinkable for a team looking to shed money regardless of the cost.
Texans acquire WR Brandin Cooks and a 2022 fourth-round pick from the Rams for the 57th pick in this month's draft.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) April 9, 2020
Instead, O'Brien has now made two poor moves in one offseason, and still has the NFL Draft remaining on the docket.
Our thoughts are with Texans fans during this difficult time.