The Dallas Cowboys are at a crossroads regarding the future of wide receiver Brandin Cooks, a trade acquisition last offseason whose consistent contribution remains elusive.
As of Week 9, Cooks’ statistics for the Cowboys paint a bleak picture: a mere 17 receptions for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz has speculated that the Cowboys might opt to part ways with Cooks after this season if his performance fails to take a positive turn.
Cooks was initially brought to the Cowboys with the expectation of bolstering the offense on multiple fronts. He was meant to serve as a reliable No. 2 wide receiver to divert defensive attention away from CeeDee Lamb, consequently elevating Michael Gallup to the No. 3 position. However, reality has not aligned with these expectations. The Cowboys’ passing game is ranked 19th in pass DVOA this season, with Cooks contributing to the challenges.
The quantifiable metrics reveal Cooks’ struggles, with a mere 23 targets indicating his difficulty in finding separation. Among 81 qualifying receivers, Cooks ranks 72nd in ESPN’s Receiver Tracking Metrics, with his open score placing him at 70th. He fares slightly better in DVOA, ranking 56th. In stark contrast, CeeDee Lamb ranks 12th in DVOA.
The Cowboys do have an exit strategy from Cooks if his performance doesn’t improve. Designating him as a post-June 1 cut would incur a $2 million dead money cap hit for the next three years while saving $8 million on the cap in 2024.
In terms of Cooks’ contract, he currently holds a $4 million salary and $6 million cap hit for 2023 as part of a two-year, $39.7 million deal. For the upcoming season, these figures rise to an $8 million salary and $10 million cap hit.
While Dallas has publicly expressed its commitment to Cooks, the team had likely anticipated more significant contributions from the veteran receiver. Cooks had previously achieved over 1,000 receiving yards in six of the past eight seasons leading up to 2023. The blame for his underwhelming performance isn’t solely his, as the Cowboys’ offense also shares responsibility for not fully integrating Cooks.
Cooks experienced four games this season with two or fewer receptions, reflecting the broader struggles of the Dallas offense. CeeDee Lamb has been the sole consistent producer among the Cowboys’ receivers in 2023, leaving Cooks and Gallup struggling to claim the secondary roles.
As the postseason nears, the absence of a reliable receiving threat beyond Lamb raises concerns. There is a glimmer of hope for the Cowboys in the emergence of tight end Jake Ferguson, but the reliance on Lamb for heavy receptions might not be a sustainable strategy in the long run.