Brandin Cooks wasn’t dealt before the NFL’s trade deadline in November.
And, frankly, he didn’t seem happy about it.
But as a Bears fan, I’m glad Cooks didn’t leave Houston before the clock struck midnight on the deadline. Cooks caught 5 passes, put up 106 receiving yards, and scored a touchdown in the Houston Texans’ win against the Colts in Week 18. Y’know, the win that handed the Chicago Bears the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft? Yeah, we should be Stan-ing for Cooks and Lovie Smith after yesterday’s performance.
Anyway, that might turn out to be Cooks’ last act as a member of the Texans: Click2Houston’s Aaron Wilson reports an expectation that Houston will honor Cooks’ trade request this upcoming offseason.
This now has me thinking about whether the Bears should kick the tires regarding that situation. It’s never too early to start putting together offseason wishlists, and we know Chicago has needs at the position. Do you see what I’m getting at here?
Cooks, 29, fell well short of a 1,000-yard receiving season. However, he has hit the 1,000-yard receiving milestone in six years (four of which he topped 1,100 yards). And even though Cooks didn’t get to 1,000 this year, he did post a 1,037-yard campaign with six scores just a year ago. Simply put, Cooks would be an upgrade to a receiving corps that has a handful of openings popping up this offseason.
As for how the Bears can get in the mix, I’ve got ideas. Among them: My wondering if Cooks’ name would come up in hypothetical trade talks for the first overall pick. Think about it. In 2016, the Rams gave up a haul for the right to draft Jared Goff. They sent their first-round pick, two second-rounders, a third-rounder, a 2017 first-rounder, and a 2017 third-round choice to the Titans for the No.1 overall pick. L.A. also threw in a fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder. But hey, it’s still a haul. The Bears should be holding out for a similar deal from the Texans. Or any number of teams that come calling. But maybe instead of a third-rounder, maybe dangling Cooks instead would intrigue Bears GM Ryan Poles. Don’t give me that look. I’m just spitballing here.
Last year’s receiver trade market was pretty wild. And Cooks’ potential inclusion in this year’s merry-go-round could make this one just as hot. I’m not sure if there is a one-for-one comp on a trade from last year, but perhaps the Amari Cooper trade (two fifth-round picks and a sixth-rounder) from the Cowboys to the Browns is something that might work. Maybe Robert Woods’ trade from the Rams to the Titans (which sent a sixth-round pick to L.A.) could provide a comp, too. It is possible that the need around the league will be so high that the Texans could ask for more. Whatever it is, just add it to the list of storylines we’ll follow this offseason.