The Dallas Cowboys offense and quarterback Dak Prescott, particularly, sorely missed Amari Cooper’s presence reverse 2022 Second-Team All-Pro vast receiver CeeDee Lamb in 2022. Prescott grew to become the primary participant in NFL historical past to guide or co-lead the league in interceptions regardless of lacking 5 or video games final season, and various of his 15 picks have been a results of being overly-reliant on Lamb and telegraphing throws.
However, Jerry Jones has remedied the difficulty by buying vast receiver Brandin Cooks through a commerce with the Houston Texans by which the Cowboys despatched a 2023 fifth-round decide and a 2024 sixth-round decide south to Houston. On Monday, Dallas’ new quantity two wideout was welcomed to the group.
This commerce was months within the making as each the Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers have been reportedly in talks on the commerce deadline to accumulate the confirmed pass-catcher.
“Better late than by no means,” new Dallas Cowboys vast receiver Brandin Cooks mentioned Monday, through DallasCowboys.com, when requested about lastly becoming a member of the group. “I’m extraordinarily excited. …I believe it’ll be a particular place.”
Dallas’ commerce acquisition of Cooks marks the fourth time the 29-year-old receiver has been dealt, tying an NFL file. However, the well-traveled wideout does not see that as a nasty factor.
“I’ve actually by no means gotten upset as a result of which means somebody on the market needs me to be part of their group,” Cooks mentioned, per ESPN. “I believe I’m simply lucky sufficient to have the ability to play with so many nice organizations and make an affect on this league in every single place I’ve been. It excites me. I believe it is particular as a result of which means I did not get to free company, so folks leaping the gun to get me earlier than I get there. So, that is the best way I have a look at it. I have a look at it in a constructive gentle.”
One of the issues Cooks already appreciates about his new quarterback Dak Prescott is his management because the two-time Pro Bowl passer was one of many first from the group to succeed in out after information of Cooks’ commerce broke.
“I look ahead to getting began,” Cooks mentioned. “[Dak] was excited and may’t wait to get to work. You hear his method, his work ethic, and the chief that he’s. And his story actually. His perseverance, the best way that he bounces again all through his profession. I believe whenever you obtained a mindset like that at quarterback, it takes you a good distance. So, I’m wanting ahead to having a frontrunner like that.”
The Cowboys, who’ve received 12 video games in every of the final two seasons — the primary time the group has accomplished so since their 1990’s glory days after they received three Super Bowls in 4 seasons from 1992-1995–, will likely be a change in vibes from his Texans tenure by which they went 11-38-1, giving Houston the NFL’s worst file during the last three seasons since 2020.
“I could not be hungrier,” Cooks mentioned. “The final three years, it’s what it’s. …Definitely fueling the fireplace and that starvation to return out right here, simply present up, and assist my group win. I can not wait. I actually cannot.”
That’s music to the Cowboys’ ears as they add one in all solely seven gamers in the whole league since 2014, when Cooks entered the NFL, with over 8,500 receiving yards (8,616) and over 45 receiving touchdowns (49). Alongside Cooks in that unique membership is Las Vegas Raiders vast receiver Davante Adams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vast receiver Mike Evans, Arizona Cardinals vast receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce, Buffalo Bills vast receiver Stefon Diggs, and Antonio Brown.
Cooks’ six profession seasons of at the least 1,000 receiving yards are tied for the third-most within the NFL since 2014, trailing solely Evans (9 seasons) and Kelce (seven seasons) in that statistic. He has achieved the feat with every of his 4 earlier groups: the New Orleans Saints (2015-2016), the New England Patriots (2017), the Los Angeles Rams (2018), and the Houston Texans (2020-2021). Doing so in 2021 with Houston is very noteworthy given he was catching passes from 32-year-old Tyrod Taylor and rookie Davis Mills.
“It’s not that arduous,” Cooks mentioned when requested about his productiveness with all 4 of the groups he has been part of, per DallasCowboys.com. “I simply decide up the playbook, study it and maintain it pushing.”
Going ahead, Cooks will likely be studying and growing a consolation with head coach Mike McCarthy’s playbook towards two All-Pro cornerbacks day by day in observe in Trevon Diggs and his former New England Patriots teammate Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore, like Cooks, additionally joined the Cowboys this offseason through commerce after spending a yr with the Indianapolis Colts.
“Iron sharpens iron,” Cooks mentioned when requested about competing with Diggs and Gilmore on the observe area.
The reunion with Gilmore was years within the making as the 2 grew to become shut of their one season collectively in New England again in 2017. Their time collectively ended with the Patriots arising simply brief in Super Bowl LII, 41-33, towards the Philadelphia Eagles. Cooks mentioned he “grew to become like greatest mates” in New England with the 2019 Defensive Player of the Year.
“We actually talked, realistically, each single day through the offseason,” Cooks mentioned.
Gilmore, like many Cowboys followers, celebrated Cooks’ arrival to Dallas on Twitter, tweeting out an image of them at a Boston Celtics sport. With the “Fambloski” of Cooks and Gilmore coming collectively once more in Dallas, the Cowboys seem to have two of their largest roster wants crammed coming into the 2023 season.
