The Houston Texans traded a 2020 second-round pick and a future fourth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday for receiver Brandin Cooks. The move helps the Texans assemble receiving talent to find a way to replace the production lost with trading three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals on March 16.
Hopkins was shipped to the Cardinals for salary cap reasons. By the same token, how much will Cooks’ contract cost the Texans?
According to Spotrac, in 2020, Cooks’ contract of $8 million is guaranteed. It would also cost the Texans that much in salary cap and dead money if they cut him.
In 2021, things start to get better for the Texans if Cooks doesn’t meet the organization’s expectations; they can cut him without any dead money. In 2021, Cooks makes $12 million, then $13 million in 2022, and $14 million in the final year of his contract.
Brandin Cooks will bring cap & cash figures of $8M (GTD), $12M, $13M, & $14M to the #Texans (though it’s possible an additional $4M bonus comes with him in 2020). He holds no guarantees or dead cap after this season.
— Spotrac (@spotrac) April 9, 2020
Cooks’ contract offers the Texans an $8 million price tag to see if he can be a key part of their passing game. If not, Houston has an easy out starting in 2021.