The Dallas Cowboys made a major addition to their offense this offseason when they acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans. He will be a much-needed upgrade for the Dallas passing game.
His presence will help take pressure off of CeeDee Lamb, who was the only consistent threat through the air for the Cowboys in 2022. He proved capable of being a go-to No. 1 receiver, but the supporting cast around him needs some adjusting.
Michael Gallup struggled to make the same impact in 2021 before his knee injury and looked out of sorts last season upon his return. Jalen Tolbert could be ready to ascend the depth chart, but as a third or fourth option, not No. 2 as Brandin Cooks will be.
His speed and ability to beat defenses deep will also be a major aid to the Cowboys. Dallas could move the ball, but a big play threat for downfield passing was missing from the team. That will no longer be the case with their newest addition.
With experience as a No. 1, Brandin Cooks could be in for a big season playing off of Lamb. Lamb is the unquestioned No. 1 option in the passing offense and will be garnering most of the attention from opposing defenses, providing advantageous situations for his newest teammate to take advantage of.
One person who believes that will occur is Kevin Patra of NFL.com. Patra recently put together a piece highlighting a player from each NFC team that could become a first-time Pro Bowler this season. For the Cowboys, his selection was Brandin Cooks.
“Despite surpassing the 1,000-yard mark in six of his nine NFL seasons, Cooks surprisingly has been shut out of the Pro Bowl. Joining the high-profile Cowboys could help end that streak. Cooks’ deep-ball ability should fit well in Dallas’ offense, where he can take the top off the defense as opponents focus on slowing CeeDee Lamb. The NFC WR group is stacked, but Cooks still brings juice and should have enough big-play opportunities to have a chance to earn his first Pro Bowl selection at 30 years old.”
It is a bit surprising that Brandin Cooks hasn’t landed a Pro Bowl spot to this point. He has had some very productive seasons, but most of it has come while playing for a losing team.
In nine seasons in the NFL,Brandin Cooks has made the postseason only twice. Playing for a team with playoff aspirations as a top option in the passing game could be the recipe needed to end his drought.
