Grading Cowboys Trade for WR Brandin Cooks: 'A' for New Dak Prescott Weapon

How can we 'grade the trade' as the Dallas Cowboys get the Houston Texans receiver Brandin Cooks? By going through those boxes ...

FRISCO - As one Dallas Cowboys team source put it to CowboysSI.com after the Sunday morning trade for Brandin Cooks, he "checks all the boxes.''

It's a cliche. But oftentimes, cliches are true.

How can we grade the deal to obtain the Houston Texans receiver? By going through those aforementioned boxes ...

TEAM NEED: The Cowboys have made no secret of wanting a pass-catcher to team up with Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. Dallas had one of the league’s most explosively productive offenses last season as the Cowboys were top-five in touchdowns (52) and points per game (27.5). But in part because Lamb carried a big load by himself, Dallas wasn't consistently explosive.

Cooks can change that.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT: Cooks is one of the fastest wideouts in the NFL, well known for being able to take the top off of defenses for Dallas this season. He can run after the catch (key in coach Mike McCarthy's new West Coast Offense) but as much as anything else, his deep-threat presence will clear out room for Lamb and others.

TRADE COST: A Cowboys source told us on Sunday morning that Dallas feels it got a "steal,'' and here's why: The Cowboys only sent a 2023 fifth-round pick and a 2024 sixth-round pick in exchange for Cooks, who wanted out of the Houston rebuild and was given that reward due to having been "a good soldier'' and leader for the Texans.

Is Cooks an equal to DeAndre Hopkins? No. But Arizona wants "a second-round pick plus'' for Hopkins. This makes more sense if Dallas wanted to "win a trade'' - which is surely did.

SALARY COST: The Cowboys and Texans talked at last October's trade deadline but money was a problem. Now? Cooks, 29, gets $18 million guaranteed this year, but the Texans are picking up $6 million of that, providing Dallas some relief.

Yes, Dallas could've signed Odell Beckham Jr. for $18 million. But considering the fact he's griping about having been offered $4 million (by somebody), the NFL obviously doesn't think OBJ is worth that.

PROVEN STATS: Despite posting just 699 yards and three scores in 13 games last season, Cooks is known as a perennial 1,000-yard guy.

RISK FACTOR: There are no big character issues here, or age issues, or injury issues. That is not something that can be said for most of the other high-profile potential Dallas targets.

FINAL GRADE: These things don't come with guarantees. But as with this week's trade for cornerback Stephon Gilmore, Dallas has made two swaps for proven standouts while giving up only low-round picks and cap-doable paychecks. Dallas gets an 'A' here.

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