Texans Daily

Texans Time to Trade Brandin Cooks: Cowboys vs. Patriots Bidding War?

Given where the Texans program is right now ... do they need a $25 million wideout? Or do they need a trade of Brandin Cooks to the Cowboys or Patriots?

Matt Galatzan

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Standout wideout Brandin Cooks has been a good soldier over the last couple of years while toiling for the woeful Houston Texans. 

But now, last time we checked, he is looking for a way out. 

Can the New England Patriots be that "way'' so they can bring the highly productive receiver back to Bill Belichick's team?

Or can the Texans get back on that phone that was so hot at the NFL trade deadline and get the Dallas Cowboys excited again?

How about a bidding war between the two?

Cooks is a $25 million (on the cap) APY guy, and if he's dealt, maybe a new deal will be in order. Meanwhile, we don't want to dismiss the notion of new coach DeMeco Ryans getting with one of this team's locker room leaders and persuading him to stay.

But given where the Texans program is right now ... do they need a $25 million wideout?

We know New England needs a talent boost at the position, where the existing guys give QB Mac Jones very little help. And also in New England, Bill O’Brien is the new coordinator. He once oversaw the trade that brought Cooks to Houston. We bet he gets it.

Oh, speaking of old connections: There is also the idea of the Patriots and to DeAndre Hopkins - and that trade with the Cardinals would represent a huge upgrade in New England. But somebody might wish to ask Hopkins - another former Texans standout - if he's interested in working for O'Brien again.

And Dallas? Cooks' contract situation at the deadline was complicated. And Houston wanted a second-round pick - which the still-receiver-needy Cowboys at the time were pretty much willing to give. An offseason contract, re-done, would be easier to make work. 

The trade price? Cooks is coming off a mediocre year (57 passes for 699 yards and three touchdowns, though the mediocrity wasn't his fault) he turns 30 in September. But a second-round pick almost worked in October.

Maybe - of the two parties don't want to work in Houston - Cooks being traded can work again.

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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of TexansDaily.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com