Colin Cowherd blames soon-to-be axed Ezekiel Elliott for need for Brandin Cooks’ services in Dallas

The Dallas Cowboys have been busy this off-season, recently acquiring wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans.

They traded their fifth-round pick in 2023 and a sixth-round pick in 2024 to Houston in return for Cooks.

While Dallas has acquired a veteran who has been productive throughout his nine-year career, Colin Cowherd thinks it was a move made out of desperation.

Cowherd compared it to how the Cowboys traded Amari Cooper away last season. He thinks Cooper had a sensational season in Cleveland after leaving Dallas.

"I saw the Cowboys picked up Brandin Cooks, so this story kind of cracked me up. So everybody's freaking out. So Dallas gave up a fifth and a sixth-round pick to get Brandin Cooks from Houston. That's what they got for Amari Cooper.

"I'd rather have Amari Cooper. Last year, nobody was watching. But Amari Cooper was sensational. Nine touchdowns, 78 catches with Jacoby Brissett and a rusty Deshaun Watson.

Cowherd added that the team was forced to trade Cooper due to overpaying both Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott.

"But they had to let him go because of the Zeke contract and because they overpaid Dak. So if you gave me this morning CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper and Dalton Schultz, that is an elite receiver, tight end group. If you give me Brandin Cooks, CeeDee Lamb and maybe Dalton Schultz who may get an offer, nothing special. So again, lesson learned."

The team recently released Ezekiel Elliott to free up cap space. In the last off-season, they traded Cooper, who caught 78 balls for 1,160 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns with the Browns.

---

What are the Dallas Cowboys getting with Brandin Cooks?

Brandin Cooks Houston Texans v Chicago Bears

The Dallas Cowboys gain another wide receiver in Brandin Cooks.

Cooks will join a room that features CeeDee Lamb, Michael Gallup, and KaVontae Turpin. Noah Brown departed from the team as he signed with the Houston Texans in free agency and tight end Dalton Schultz remains a free agent.

Last season, Cooks recorded 57 catches for 699 yards and three touchdowns while missing four games.

In his career, Cooks has 630 receptions, 8,616 yards, and 49 touchdowns. While he is aging, Cooks should be a good WR2 or WR3 for the Cowboys this season.