Deshaun Watson recently took to the airwaves to recruit Tee Higgins, a pending free agency wideout from the AFC North Division foe Cincinnati Bengals. While such option has a slim chance of succeeding and may depend on the quarterback agreeing to a price cut, a trade to assist the Cowboys clear some cash off their books appears more likely.
On Monday, January 29, Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department released an offseason trade guide for both Cleveland and Dallas, naming wide receiver Brandin Cooks as one of the Cowboys’ top trade assets and one of the Browns’ top trade targets. As a bonus, the transaction would reunite Watson and Cooks, who had a tremendously productive year together with the Houston Texans in 2020.
[The Cowboys] would save $4 million on the cap by trading away the veteran, and they paid a low draft price for him last year anyhow.
Cooks did some of his greatest work in Houston in 2020, when Deshaun Watson threw him the football. The Browns are now desperate to ensure that Watson lives up to the trade package and compensation they gave up to acquire him. If reuniting the two is the solution, it should be considered.
BR’s presentation sends Cooks to the Browns in exchange for two fifth-round picks in 2024 (134th overall) and 2025.
Browns struck gold by trading with the Cowboys for WR. Amari Cooper
Dallas could save $8 million in 2024 by moving Cooks after June 1, and an additional $2 million in 2025 by waiting until the summer to execute the trade.
Cleveland does not need to rush, since it can easily wait for history to repeat itself.
“The Dallas Cowboys need to generate cap space and could look to do so by dealing one of their secondary wide receivers,” the NFL Network said Monday. “The Cowboys dealt Amari Cooper just two years ago to make room in the No. 1 role for CeeDee Lamb, and now, Lamb is extension-eligible.”
Browns struck gold by trading with the Cowboys for WR. Amari Cooper
Dallas could save $8 million in 2024 by moving Cooks after June 1, and an additional $2 million in 2025 by waiting until the summer to execute the trade.
Cleveland does not need to rush, since it can easily wait for history to repeat itself.
“The Dallas Cowboys need to generate cap space and could look to do so by dealing one of their secondary wide receivers,” the NFL Network said Monday. “The Cowboys dealt Amari Cooper just two years ago to make room in the No. 1 role for CeeDee Lamb, and now, Lamb is extension-eligible.”
Cooper, on the other hand, has proven to be a vital asset to the Browns. Dealing with him is therefore unlikely. However, extending the 29-year-old receiver makes sense since it allows Cleveland to defer some of his costs while keeping its best pass-catcher for the remainder of the team’s contention window.
Brandin Cooks can help Deshaun Watson and the Browns offence push the ball downfield.
Cooks would be a wonderful addition to the Browns’ offensive identity, not only for a return to the playoffs but also for the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance.
Cleveland wants to pass the ball more often and further downfield. The team enjoyed success playing that way with Joe Flacco for the latter part of the 2023 season and will likely try to recreate that success if Watson recovers from the season-ending shoulder surgery he had last November.
Cooks may undoubtedly help in this aspect. The 10-year NFL veteran has six 1,000-plus seasons on his resume and 57 career touchdown receptions. In 2020, with Watson as his quarterback, he caught 81 passes for 1,150 yards and eight touchdowns. Watson topped the league in passing yards that season, his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, with 4,823.
Before making any substantial moves, the Browns must evaluate their awful salary cap realities, which are mostly due to Watson’s $230 million contract that goes through 2026. As of Monday, Cleveland’s books show the franchise would lose $20.5 million in 2024.
Even if Berry and company can get Cooks for a decent trade price, his contract will not be cheap. The wideout is entering the final season of a two-year, $39.8 million contract that includes a $10 million cap hit in 2024.
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