CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns have considered trading Texas wide receiver Brandin Cooks for Deshaun Watson’s top 2020 target, but that’s unlikely to happen.
They’re one of numerous teams the Texans have called about the ninth-year trade for the pro, league sources tell cleveland.com, but the likelihood is slim right now.
That’s partly because the Texans may want a second-round pick for the 2014 first-round pick, and the Browns have already traded their first-round and fourth-round picks to the Texans in 2022 for Watson, as well as a third-round pick in the year 2023 and a fourth round in 2024.
Additionally, the 28-year-old Cooks is entering the final year of his contract on a base salary of $12.5 million and will be seeking an extension from his new team. He also has about $500,000 in incentives and $1.5 million in escalators this season.
Cooks, who has played for four teams in his eight seasons, will expect to be the No. 1 receiver — and get paid that way — and the Browns already have their X in former Cowboys, four-time Pro Bowler Amari Cooper , bartered.
But Cooks (5-10, 183) would offer the Browns another fast, deep threat and a reliable target for Watson, who excelled with him in their lone season on the field in 2020. That year, a season in which Watson led the NFL with 4,823 passing yards, Cooks caught a team-high of 81 of 119 goals for 1,150 yards and six TDs. In 2021, with Watson one healthy scrape in all 17 games after asking to be traded and in the throes of his legal woes, Cooks caught 90 passes for 1,037 yards and 6 TDs from a combination of Davis Mills and Tyrod Taylor.
Receptions in 2021 placed 13th, Shipyards 20th and TDs 18th. In six of his last seven seasons, he’s hauled 1,000 yards or more and can play outside or in the slot, which he did 34% of the time in 2021.
The Browns are likely to add another starting receiver this offseason, whether it’s a college prospect or a veteran. As well as Cooks, they also discussed the signing of current free agent Jarvis Landry, which has attracted interest from several teams, including the Chiefs.
The Browns are No. 44 overall in the second round and could potentially land their No. 2 receiver there. They also expect Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz to continue improving and will be key components of the passing game.
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