3. 2020 2nd round pick to the Rams for Brandin Cooks and a 2022 4th round pick
As hard as it may be to do so, try to view this move as completely separate from the DeAndre Hopkins trade made by Bill O’Brien. With two starting-caliber receivers on the roster in Will Fuller and Kenny Stills, another move had to be made in free agency or through the draft. Both of those players missed some time last season, so Randall Cobb was signed to a $27 million deal over three years to be primarily a slot receiver.
Now equipped with the 40th and 57th overall picks, most would have expected the Texans to draft a pass-catcher being that this is reportedly one of the deepest wide receiver draft classes since the legendary 2014 group.
Now throwing Brandin Cooks into the offense, the Texans feature the fastest group of receivers in the entire league, but health is a major factor for all players involved.
Stills ran his 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, Fuller clocked in at 4.32, and Cooks was just a hair behind at 4.33. The risks associated with Cooks are his five reported concussions in the past six years, as well as his contract that rivals what Hopkins was making.
Despite the overwhelming number of concussions, Cooks has only missed two games in his career due to injury and should present another huge weapon for quarterback Deshaun Watson. After seeing many players retire early due to concussion symptoms, like Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, this risk seems calculated, but could backfire on any play.
The jury is still out on whether or not this trade was worth making, but the best aspect of it included having the Rams take on most of his 2020 salary. Cooks will only receive $8 million from the Texans this year, and hopefully sticks around long enough to show why he’s been traded for three times in his career.