There are many questions that need to be answered to determine whether or not GM Nick Caserio should be open to trading one of the team’s best players.
Does Cooks want to be traded?
Cooks didn’t seem happy Jack Easterby was let go and since that decision he has voiced his sadness and done some interesting things on social media.
He Tweeted this:
And liked these Tweets, an article linking him to different teams and trade rumors along with someone saying he needs a change of scenery.
Could it be no big deal? Yes. However, these days social media trails mean something more times than not.
IF Cooks wants to be traded then it might be in the Texans best interest to move him because if he’s not fully-invested then having him around could be counter-productive. I find it hard to believe that a player going from being one of the culture guys/leaders of the team to being disgruntled is good for the rebuild.
Again, this is IF Cooks wants to be moved.
Also, while Cooks is a good player it’s not like he’s Deshaun Watson where you have to stand your ground because his value is so high, which brings us to No. 2.
How much value does Cooks have?
It’s hard to imagine Cooks would warrant the second-round pick the Texans traded for him. If they could get that then it would be a no-brainer move for Caserio to make.
Would it be worth trading Cooks for a fourth? This comes down to whether or not he wants to be here.
Why trade Cooks?:
He might not want to be here and quite frankly, if your happiness in Houston is tied to whether or not Easterby, one of the worst things to happen to football in the city, is here then in the words of Lovie Smith, “Divorce might be a good thing.”
Why not trade Cooks?
Cooks is one of your best players and his value isn’t that high. Plus, if he’s still invested in the process he’s a good guy to have around.
Regardless …
The Texans need to be proactively looking for a No. 1 wide receiver in the near future.
Making Cooks the second-best WR on the team would go a long way if he’s here and if he’s not then getting a true No. 1 WR would be an even bigger priority.
There are some BIG names at the WR position in the 2023 NFL Draft. Quentin Johnston (TCU), Kayshon Boutte (LSU), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (tOSU), Jordan Addison (USC), Marvin Mims (OU) and Jalin Hyatt (TU), to name a few.
So many needs for this team, so many possibilities?
Will Caserio make a move? Does Cooks want him to? So many questions, such little time til the deadline.
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