Sunday morning kicked off with the Houston Texans dominating the NFL news. The Texans agreed to a big contract extension with standout left tackle Laremy Tunsil and then dealt top wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Dallas Cowboys.
It’s a deal that sends a fifth-round pick in 2023 and a sixth-rounder in 2024 from Dallas to Houston for Cooks, who led the Texans in receiving in each of his three seasons with the team. The trade impacts the draft needs for both franchises.
Cowboys impact
Dallas lands the receiver they sorely needed to pair with CeeDee Lamb. He steps into the hole the Cowboys created by trading Amari Cooper to the Browns in 2022.
Cooks is 29 and coming off a down (for him) season, albeit one with inferior QB play and supporting talent in Houston to what he’ll have in Dallas. Houston used him more in a shorter passing game, but Cooks was a very adept deep threat during his Rams and Saints days. He can work all levels of the field.
Adding Cooks means the Cowboys no longer need a wide receiver as desperately as they did. Dallas can still use more help at wide receiver, but can wait until later in the draft to tap into a middle-heavy draft class at wideout.
Texans impact
Houston already added wideouts Robert Woods and Noah Brown (the Cowboys’ No. 2 WR in 2022) this offseason to roll out with promising young Nico Collins. John Metchie could provide a boost with a healthy return. In short, wide receiver is still a need but not a pressing one.
Adding a fifth-round pick gives Houston the replacement for the fifth-rounder they forfeited for illegally compensating Deshaun Watson during the pandemic. That range of the draft is where the Texans could look to add another wideout. It would be surprising if GM Nick Caserio addressed it before that point.
