Why didn’t Brandin Cooks get traded? It’s all of the Texans fault
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 07: Brandin Cooks #13 of the Houston Texans in action against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on November 07, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Houston Texans large receiver Brandin Cooks was an apparent menace to get traded on the deadline. But, 4 p.m. ET Wednesday glided by with no deal. So, what occurred?
Brandin Cooks was one of many top wide receivers out there on the commerce deadline this season. There have been additionally quite a lot of large receiver-needy groups who may use a expertise like Cooks. Certainly, there was a match, proper?
Not so quick.
The Texans did not commerce Cooks by the 4 p.m. ET commerce deadline, partially due to the worth they anticipated in return for him. Houston common supervisor Nick Caserio reportedly needed a number of draft picks in return for Cooks, and for any celebration to imagine all of Cooks’ remaining contract. Mainly, right here’s what any deal for Cooks would have regarded like, per Adam Schefter:

Texans Get
Second-round choose
Fourth-round choose
$18 million

Packers Get
WR, Brandin Cooks
On this case we used the Packers, since they failed to accumulate a weapon on the commerce deadline.
Why didn’t the Texans commerce Brandin Cooks?
Houston didn’t commerce Cooks as a result of they didn’t obtain the huge haul they’d anticipate in any provides. That’s possible as a result of they overvalued Cooks and the large receiver market within the first place.
With the variety of large receivers out there on the commerce deadline, no groups would overpay for a 29-year-old weapon with $18 million of bags like Cooks, as proficient as he could also be at his greatest.
Cooks has six 1,000-yard seasons to his title, however he has simply 354 yards and one rating this yr. Has he taken a step again, or does this say extra about Houston’s quarterback scenario? Nonetheless, there are sufficient questions on Cooks as a participant to warrant pushback on that commerce return. Add within the contract consideration, and it’s straightforward to see why most groups would look elsewhere.