HOUSTON — General manager Nick Caserio continues the rebuilding of Houston Houston TexansNow, his attention should be turned to his most gifted offensive player.
Wide receiver Brandin CooksThe Texans traded Cooks in 2020 for a second-rounder pick. He has only one season remaining on his contract. Cooks is owed $12.5 million in base salary in 2022 under a contract that was signed with The Los Angeles RamsHouston restructured the organization last year.
Cooks was a major target for the quarterback Deshaun Watson2020: A key component of rookie quarterback Davis Mills’ development last season. He has been consistent throughout his career and has played in at most 14 games, except his rookie season (2014). In six of his eight NFL seasons, the wide receiver has received more than 1,000 yards. He played for four different teams.
Houston could let Cooks play in Houston this season before allowing him to go to the open market in 2023. But it seems more likely that Cooks would prefer to be signed to a contract extension by the Texans to keep him here, or to trade him for the best value, if neither side can agree on a new deal.
Houston has received multiple calls with interest in Cooks, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. ESPN sources tell ESPN that Cooks is likely to be traded by the Texans in exchange for a second-round draft pick.
“Brandin has been a great player in this league for a long time,” Caserio said. “I have a lot of respect for him, personally and professionally. He is an essential part of our programme.
“If there's a conversation [about a contract extension]We will do what we think merits. Brandin has been a good player for us, and he could certainly help us.”
What might a contract extension look and feel like?
Two March trades, and two contract extensions, reset the wide receiver markets with the Las Vegas RaidersTrading for Davante AdamsSigning him to a 5-year, $140 Million contract ($28 million on average per year). Later, the Miami DolphinsFor Tyreek HillHe extended his contract for four years to $120million ($30 million APY).
Eight receivers currently make an average of $20 million per year. Cooks could be one of those receivers for the Texans.
“It seems like whenever you talk about Brandin, anyone, they talk about leadership,” said Texans coach Lovie Smith, who was promoted from defensive coordinator. “You don’t say that about everybody. For people to refer to you as such, they must describe you well.
“And for me it was being in a different position last year and only seeing him from afar. … I knew about him before I got there. You could see how he managed his business every day. The professionalism he displayed. The routine. All the things I know the good football players I’ve been around do on a daily basis is what I saw from Brandin.”
On 2021 cutdown day, the average age of the Texans was 26.8, which was second in the NFL. Smith said the team is now “transitioning” from a team made up of mostly veteran players to one Caserio said he expects to have “an influx of younger players,” compared to last season.
Smith mentioned Cooks as an example of a veteran who can help younger players develop.
“We’re transitioning,” Smith said. “There are young players coming in. How do we accomplish that? They have the perfect man to look at. So, excited that he’s on the football team. He’s exactly who I thought he was before I got a chance to be on the same team as him.”
