FRISCO - Brandin Cooks claims he should've went long. And now the Dallas Cowboys' receiver might be long gone.
While former Cowboys' receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Gallup may be intriguing options when NFL free agency commences Wednesday, it's Cooks that presents the most interesting decision for Dallas.
With four teams over nine years, Cooks had at least one 1,000-yard season at each stop. Until arriving in Dallas. During his two seasons he never caught more than 700 yards, and last season produced career-lows in catches (26) and yards (259).
Now as a free agent, the Cowboys might be ready to move on from Cooks. And it sounds like Cooks - whose deep speed was never fully utlitilized here - is hinting at moving on as well.
“I have a good relationship with Dak (Prescott) the Jones family and Cee Dee (Lamb), it’s just one of those things where they have to focus on what they have to get done first too," Cooks said this week. "I would love to play with the Cowboys, at the same time they would have to use me right. I don’t think they fully used me to my strengths.”
Cooks has received little publicity about his return to Dallas this offseason - especially amidst all the receiver free agency buzz across the NFL. Like his 2024 season, he feels like a free-agent afterthought.
The Cowboys, in fact, could be eyeing a receiver with the 12th overall pick in next month's draft.
The San Francisco 49ers traded Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders, which could put the 49ers in the market for a wide receiver with the No. 11 overall pick. The New York Jets, who have pick No. 7, released Davante Adams. The Seattle Seahawks, who have the No. 18 overall pick, cut Tyler Lockett and are in the process of trading D.K. Metcalf.
The last two times the Cowboys drafted a receiver in the first round it worked out pretty well: Lamb in 2020 and Dez Bryant in 2010.
Like Cooper and Gallup, Cooks had his moments of success with the Cowboys. But also like Mike McCarthy, it feels like the team is ready to move on from him just because it's time for a change.
