Cooks ‘not going to accept any more trades’
Receiver wants to keep growing with QB Watson
Brandin Cooks doesn’t want to run another fly pattern out of town.
The Texans wide receiver has spent this season building his chemistry with quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Cooks doesn’t want all of that progress to be interrupted by potentially being traded for a fourth time in his NFL career. Cooks’ preference is to remain with the Texans, and that’s a viable scenario for him.
Cooks, though, has a history of being traded for serious draft capital.
Cooks has previously been traded by the Saints to the Patriots for first-round and third-round picks, to the Rams for a first-round pick, and to the Texans for a second-round draft pick last offseason.
Cooks has no more guaranteed money remaining on his contract, which runs through 2023. The Texans lack first-round and second-round draft picks in
2021 after their trade with the Dolphins for left tackle Laremy Tunsil.
“Concern? As a guy who’s been traded multiple times for first-round picks and produced at a high level, I don’t think about that,” Cooks said when asked if he worries about being traded again when the Texans hire a new generalmanager and head coach. “I understand that we’re in a unique situation. (Watson) is a special player and I would continue to love to grow with him. As far as the team, they
could trade me for draft capital, I’d caution them to think twice because, quite frankly, I’m not going to accept any more trades. For me, if you want me off your team, you’re just going to have to let me walk and choose my destination.
“I’ve got a newborn son at home and he’s looking for someone to set an example, so I think it’s me starting to stand firm when it comes to my career. When it comes to playing here and playing with Deshaun, I would love to continue that growth but that’s out of my hands. Those are decisions that I don’t make andwould hope the team sees the growth that we’ve been having and continue to showthat commitment and grow over the years.”
Cooks declined to say whether he would retire or refuse to report to a new team if he was traded, but hewas adamant that he will not accept a potential trade.
“That’s just how I feel,” he said. “Everything else will work out for itself, no need to get into specifics.”
The Texans have not launched any contract discussions with Cooks, according to league sources not authorized to speak publicly. It’s a conversation expected to take place in the offseason after the Texans have hired a new general manager and head coach.
“That’s something that I’ll let my agent handle,” Cooks said.
Cooks leads the Texans with a team-high 70 receptions for 984 yards and has four touchdown catches. He caught seven passes for 141 yards and one touchdown last Sunday in a 37-31 loss to the Bengals.
Cooks’ production has been solid since Will Fuller was suspended for violating the NFL’s performanceenhancing drug policy.
Cooks can become the second receiver in NFL history to hit the 1,000 receiving yards milestone with four different teams on Sunday against the Titans.
“I think about stuff like that sometimes, but I think it’s just important from an aspect to show consistency but never putting that above the team,” Cooks said. “I’m just blessed to be in an opportunity to have that chance.”
Cooks got off to a slow start as he and Watson were out of sync after not getting towork together much during the offseason because of the coronavirus pandemic. Cooks had only 10 catches for 138 yards on 21 targets during an 0-4 start, but had a breakout game with eight catches for 161 yards and a score in a win over the Jaguars in the fifth game.
“I think just with time little things just started to gel more and more and just the room that we have to continue to grow together,” Cooks said. “It’s pretty exciting to me. I feel great about playing in this offense. I think there’s so much more room to keep continuing to grow together.”