Cowboys 2024 free company profile: WR Brandin Cooks

The Dallas Cowboys have a protracted checklist of unrestricted free brokers who will formally hit the open market in a little bit over two months. Of these, six or seven have been important contributors in 2024, which means the Cowboys have some tough selections forward of them within the subsequent two months.

As we speak, we begin our free agent profile sequence having a look at Dallas’ impending free brokers. We kick issues off with a participant coming off a somewhat disappointing season, huge receiver Brandin Cooks.

Photograph by Nick Cammett/Diamond Pictures through Getty Pictures

2024 Common Season Stats: 10G, 26 receptions, 259 receiving yards, 10.0 Y/R, 3 receiving touchdowns, 44.4% Receiving Success Fee, 48.1% Catch Share

12 months Overview: Expectations have been excessive for veteran wideout Brandin Cooks earlier than the beginning of the 2024 common season. Throughout his first season in Dallas, Cooks was a real difference-maker for the Cowboys’ offense. Dallas was 7-1 in video games through which Cooks scored a landing and 9-0 when he had 35 or extra receiving yards.

After dropping some offensive firepower through the offseason, the Cowboys have been counting on Cooks to copy his success in 2024 and be a key piece of their offense. Sadly for each events, that didn’t occur. A knee an infection and inconsistent play turned this right into a nightmare season for the veteran.

Even earlier than struggling the knee points in Week 4, Cooks didn’t appear to be the identical participant we noticed in 2023. His largest problem was lack of separation, and the 31-year-old completed the season with the fourth-worst common separation fee (2.2 yards) amongst certified receivers. Cooks did not surpass to report 55 or extra receiving yards in a single sport, and posted profession lows in receptions (26), receiving yards (259), receiving success fee (48.1%), and catch share (48.15).

Free Company Outlook: It’s onerous to challenge what Cooks’ market will appear to be after such a down yr. Cooks will flip 32 at the beginning of subsequent season, so it’s unlikely any staff can be keen to make a long-term dedication to the growing older veteran after such a tough yr.

From 2015 to 2023 Cooks was probably the most dependable and constant receivers in all of soccer. Throughout these 9 years, Cooks recorded over 1,000 receiving yards and performed in 16 common season video games six instances. This constant efficiency makes it probably there’ll nonetheless be groups who imagine the veteran can bounce again and may have an curiosity in signing him on the open market.

Spotrac initiatives Cooks to earn a one-year, $5m deal in free company. This projection appears low in case you consider free-agent contracts signed by veteran receivers lately. Simply final offseason, huge receiver Mike Williams signed a one-year, $10M cope with the Jets. Two years again, Odell Beckham Jr. signed a one-year, $15M cope with the Baltimore Ravens.

Cooks is almost two years older than each gamers have been after they signed their offers, however his stage of play at this level in his profession is corresponding to the duo on the level they every signed.

Cowboys Verdict: As good as it might be to provide Cooks an opportunity to rebound in Dallas subsequent season, the Cowboys have so many holes to fill on their roster they’ll probably have to go youthful and cheaper on the receiver place. The largest factor Dallas’ present roster lacks on the receiver place is pace, and at this level of his profession, Cooks has misplaced a step.

With CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, Jonathan Mingo, and Jalen Brooks all underneath contract subsequent season, it appears probably the Cowboys will spend a excessive draft decide on a younger receiver and let the veteran Cooks stroll in free company.

The commerce for Brandin Cooks was nonetheless certainly one of Dallas’ greatest offseason strikes of the final decade, however it appears probably his time in Dallas has come to an finish.

Prediction: Brandin Cooks indicators a two-year, $18M cope with the Washington Commanders