One of the biggest needs for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason was upgrading at wide receiver. CeeDee Lamb proved he is capable of being a top option after taking over the No. 1 receiver role with Amari Cooper traded to the Cleveland Browns. However, Dallas failed to find a capable replacement for Cooper’s production.
Lamb had 107 receptions for 1,359 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories. The next closest by a wide receiver was 43 and 555 by Noah Brown with Michael Gallup catching four touchdowns.
Looking to address that need, the Cowboys acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans. Cooks had a down year in 2022 playing for the rebuilding franchise but should be reinvigorated playing for a playoff team in 2023.
Cooks brings a lot to the table for the Cowboys to like. He has been a mentor to the younger players on the roster as he prepares for his 10th season as a professional. With six 1,000-yard seasons under his belt, Dallas knows it is getting a productive player as well.
So far so good when it comes to the relationship between Cooks and his new quarterback, Dak Prescott. The first impression was a positive one as Prescott believes Cooks will have a major impact on the Cowboys this upcoming season.
“The moment that guy showed up, just watching him in workouts and how he carries himself from drill-to-drill, what he does pre-workout and post-workout to take care of his body to have that speed,” Prescott said, via the team’s website. “When you throw it to him, it stands out, his speed is different from many others. He’s already been helping CeeDee, helping the young guys, playing cornerback to teach them the little nuances of route-running. It’s gonna be huge for me and huge for the room.”
Cooks is a huge upgrade on what the team deployed alongside Lamb last season. Everyone can settle into roles they are better suited for as Gallup becomes the No. 3 option and should be more comfortable with a full offseason to work after spending the 2022 summer rehabbing a knee injury.
With experience as a No. 1 option, Cooks will provide Dallas with great insurance behind Lamb as teams will no longer be able to load up their coverage against him. Cooks is more than capable of taking advantage if the defense loses track of him, providing the Cowboys with a big play waiting to happen in their passing offense.
