Brandin Cooks believes the Cowboys did not utilize him to his full strengths.
There are a number of former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers who will be looking for new contracts when free agency begins next week. Amari Cooper is set to hit the open market. On Friday afternoon it was reported that Michael Gallup is going to join him in an attempted return to the NFL. Brandin Cooks is the only one of the group coming off just playing for the Cowboys, but he too will also be seeking a new opportunity for work.
For all we know any one of them could return to the Cowboys. As noted, Cooks returning would be the least dramatic as he has played for the team for the last two seasons and while there were some solid moments in that time it was also a little disappointing.
Consider that before joining the Cowboys that Brandin Cooks had at least one season where he recorded 1,000 receiving yards for every team he played for: New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans. That streak died with the Cowboys, at least for now.
According to Cooks, by way of Josina Anderson, it appears that he believes the Cowboys did not utilize him to his full strengths.
“I’m expecting a good free agency since this is the first time that I would be a free agent in my career, but I’m also open to returning to Dallas. At the end of the day I’m just trying to win. I am fully healthy and have nothing to hide (Cooks missed seven games midseason last year with a knee injury before returning).”
On the probability of returning to Dallas: “I have a good relationship with Dak (Prescott) the Jones family and Cee Dee (Lamb), it’s just one of those things where they have to focus on what they have to get done first too. I would love to play with the Cowboys, at the same time they would have to use me right. I don’t think they fully used me to my strengths.”
Between his two seasons with the Cowboys the better one for Cooks was obviously in 2023. He “only” had 81 targets across that season which at the time was the third-fewest in his career (only his rookie season with the Saints and his final season with the Rams saw less). Last season was tough for Cooks and established a new career low.
Can it be argued that Cooks was not utilized to his full strengths? These things are subjective so you could make the case. But it is worth mentioning that the first season in which he arrived, CeeDee Lamb basically set every receiving record in franchise history. The second season was full of toxicity before it ever began, and the franchise quarterback was lost for the season before the halfway point. Context matters.
For what it’s worth, Cooks’ line does not read like someone taking a shot at the team that just employed him, but rather someone looking to say he still has something to offer another NFL team who may be thinking about bringing him in shortly.
Do you agree with his estimation that he was not utilized properly?
