Getty Image / Cooper Neill
The 2022 season was a major disappointment for both the Houston Texans and Brandin Cooks.
The Texans spent all season as one of the NFL’s worst teams and then blew their chance at pick 1 in Week 18.
Brandin Cooks had his worst season as a member of the Texans and failed to reach 100 yards for just the 3rd time in his career.
During the season, the situation led Cooks to seek a trade ahead of the NFL’s deadline, but a trade never materialized. Cooks then took some time away from the team before returning for the last 3 games of the year.
Despite his return at the end of the season, Cooks told reporters that he still wants to be traded during the offseason.
Texans veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks reiterated his desire to work on offseason trade as he said last week. He doesn't want to be a part of a rebuild and respectfully communicated that. He stressed he has a good relationship with Nick Caserio and good communication @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/ALi2qRWDVa
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) January 9, 2023
I’m not looking at it as far as being a part of a rebuild, however that looks. 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.
If Cooks didn’t want to be a part of a rebuild for the Texans then he probably shouldn’t have signed a contract extension with the team back in April. At the time, it was already abundantly clear that franchise was heading in this direction with question marks all over their roster.
Still, a Cooks trade is clearly what is best for both the player and the team. Cooks will be 30 early next season, so he doesn’t really offer the Texans much as part of a rebuild. Instead, the Texans should be looking to get snaps for the younger receivers already on their roster and any that they might draft in April.
He really should have been dealt at the trade deadline this season, but the Houston Texans wouldn’t budge on a ridiculous asking price. With Cooks carrying quite a bit of money on his contract, the Texans will need to be a bit more flexible if they’re going to deal him in the offseason.