Brandin Cooks probably won’t return to the Dallas Cowboys in the Fall. With so many other positions and people up for contract renewals, Cooks isn’t likely to make the cut. How big of a loss would that be for the team?
The End is Near for Brandin Cooks and the Dallas Cowboys
Brandin Cooks and the 2024 Season
This was a tough season all the way around. While the defense began dropping like flies early on, the offense took a much slower approach, with Cooks at the forefront of that. Cooks managed to miss seven games. The New York Giants ended up being bookmarks for him, as his injury began after Week 4 and he returned to play them again in Week 13. His performance made a huge difference in the Week 13 game, scoring a touchdown, but that’s most of it.
Cooks ended the 2024 NFL season with career lows in several categories. With only 259 receiving yards, a longest catch of 29 yards, and only 19 first downs, the decision seems obvious. The reliance on Cooks as a WR2 is over with the development of Jalen Tolbert, who stepped up while Cooks was out. If his contract was only based on skill, then there’d be no argument. But there’s more to it for the Cowboys.
An Influence to the Younger Wide Receivers
Both Tolbert and CeeDee Lamb managed to learn a lot from Cooks. As an older receiver, Cooks has been all over the league. He managed to play for four other teams besides the Cowboys. So what he brings to the table isn’t so much flare, but knowledge. He learned to adjust under different coaching styles, in various systems, and up until this season, found success nearly every year.
The Cowboys wide receiver room is incredibly young. If Cooks doesn’t see a renewal, the oldest player in the room would be Lamb. This is a bit of a concern, as the older players often help mentor that younger squad. Lamb is an exceptional player, but he hasn’t learned to keep himself under control to help other guys on the roster. It could be worth it to keep Cooks primarily for that purpose, similar to Ezekiel Elliott returning to the Cowboys as a kind of mentor for Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn.
The Addition of Other Wide Receivers Pushes Brandin Cooks Out
However, the Cowboys already began building up their room in the middle of the year. The addition of Jonathan Mingo shook things up. It pointed out to the receivers currently on the roster that they weren’t cutting it. Mingo came in during Cooks’ down period. However, Mingo struggled to get the ball rolling in Dallas. It’s too early to say whether it was a true bust. Maybe with a full season established, he’ll look better.
There’s also free agency. The Cowboys are looking for that WR2 that will complement Lamb. The offense can’t only have one person trusted to catch the ball. This goes to the tight ends too, who had a rough season. Jake Ferguson faced injury early on and wasn’t the same when he returned. Luke Schoonmaker made a good run at replacing him but didn’t have those connections with the QB. That leaves free agents or the draft to fill in the wide receiver room and help complete passes.
Whether the Cowboys keep Cooks or don’t, that’s the reality. They’ll need someone else to step in and make that difference. Someone has to make Lamb’s job easier. Cooks could do that if he played to the caliber of his former seasons, where he was a 1,000-yard receiver six times. But as the Cowboys haven’t seen that side of him, he’s likely on his way out.
Main Image: Kevin Jairaj – USA Today Sports
