Odell Beckham Jr.’s quest for love and a new team led him to Baltimore. His base salary will be $15 million this season.
Brandin Cooks was delivered to Dallas in a trade that cost a couple of Day Three picks over the next two drafts. His base salary is $4 million.
And the winner is …
Beckham’s press conference with the Ravens on Thursday, a little more than three weeks after the acquisition of Cooks, mercifully brought an end to the long, slow dance between the Cowboys and OBJ. The pursuit began in the final weeks of the regular season. But when it became clear the receiver wouldn’t be cleared medically to return to Dallas or any team for the playoffs, his market disappeared.
The Cowboys’ interest in OBJ was driven by their need in the moment. Remember, it came only after the club was unable to trade for Cooks at the deadline. That was again evident in how the club proceeded this offseason.
Cooks is the better option for Dallas, a choice that goes beyond financial considerations.
Both OBJ and Cooks were taken in the first round of the 2014 draft. Cooks has 99 more receptions and nearly 1,250 more receiving yards. OBJ has seven more touchdowns.
Now, let’s look at the last three seasons. Cooks has caught 228 passes for 2,886 yards and 15 touchdowns in that span.
OBJ has 67 receptions for 856 yards and eight touchdowns. He hasn’t played in the 15 months since tearing his ACL in Super Bowl LVI and was vague Thursday when asked how much he’ll be able to do during Baltimore’s offseason program.
“I’ve been out for a long time,’’ Beckham conceded while promising to return the love Baltimore has shown him.
OBJ in his prime was a better receiver than Cooks.
He’s no longer in his prime. But he makes sense for a Baltimore team desperate to retain quarterback Lamar Jackson. He’ll add some flash to a position that has been pedestrian for the Ravens for too long.
OBJ is better off with Baltimore than he would have been with Dallas.
And the Cowboys are better off with Cooks.
