Brandin Cooks has had enough.
The former New Orleans 2014 first-round pick is entering his 10th season in the NFL. Known as a speedy threat on the outside, the former Oregon State product knows he can’t outrun Father Time.
Cooks has also been a model citizen the past three seasons. After playing in two consecutive Super Bowls from from 2017-18 with the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams, Cooks was on a 4-12 club in his first year with the Houston Texans in 2020. In 2021, after playing with Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Jared Goff earlier in his career, he had the duo of Tyrod Taylor and rookie Davis Mills throwing him the ball.
After a third straight year of double-digit losing seasons and as many coach firings with the Texans, Cooks has had enough.
“I’m not looking at it as far as being a part of a rebuild, however that looks,” Cooks said via D.J. Bien-Aime of ESPN. “That’s why I trust my camp and my representation to be able to get a map from here to there and to see what that looks like to be a part of something that has a trusted plan.”
The Texans were about to trade Cooks near the deadline in the regular season but didn’t complete the transaction. Cooks took to Twitter in the aftermath warning whomever not to take a man’s kindness for granted.
The Texans are also set to pay Cooks $18 million in guaranteed money in 2023.