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Cowboys Could Replace Expensive Starter with ‘Explosive’ 17-TD WR

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Brandin Cooks

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks

The Dallas Cowboys are figuring out their next steps after a disappointing playoff exit, and that could include a change at wide receiver. Dallas rode with CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks as their primary starters, but only Lamb seems to be a lock for the 2024 season.

Cooks’ first year in Dallas wasn’t a failure, but he is expensive for what he’s able to contribute. With that in mind, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox is suggesting that Dallas could move on this Spring.

“Cooks isn’t scheduled to be a free agent, but Jones needs to decide if the 30-year-old receiver should become one,” Knox wrote. “The potential problem with keeping Cooks is his $10 million cap hit… Such a move could lead Dallas to target a receiver like Oregon’s Troy Franklin or Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka in the draft. Keeping Cooks would make receiver less of a need, but would also help lead to a difficult cap situation.”

While both NFL draft prospects are intriguing, Egbuka possesses all the traits of an NFL standout. At 6’1″ and 205 pounds, he has a physical frame to match reliable hands. But DraftScout credits him with a 4.32 40-yard dash, meaning he can provide a new sense of explosiveness that Cooks has not.

Egbuka’s Ohio State Career

One of the most important things to understand about Egbuka’s college career is his age. The 21-year-old early enrolled at Ohio State in January of 2021, and immediately saw small role as a true freshman.

As Sports Reference shows, his 191 yards and two touchdowns don’t jump off the page. But he reached those totals on just nine grabs, averaging 21.2 yards per catch. It was just a taste of what was coming in Year 2.

Egbuka took on a starting role and made it count. He made 74 catches for 1151 receiving yards and scored 12 total touchdowns. He wasn’t just sure-handed, he was still explosive with 15.6 yards per catch.

Unfortunately, injury issues disrupted his 2023 season. He missed three games with an ankle issue and the injuries clearly hampered his production as he caught just 41 passes for 515 yards and four touchdowns.

It’s also worth noting that former Ohio State QB Kyle McCord wasn’t exactly at his best this past year, and Egbuka was sharing targets with standout prospect Marvin Harrison Jr. Egbuka’s production decreased, but it was still clear he is a special talent.

Cowboys’ Return on Cooks Investment

When Dallas traded for Cooks, it was a big move. Cooks would clearly improve the team, but the question was how much? All things considered, he has been a solid No. 2.

PFR states that he caught 54 passes for 657 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. That’s not bad for a No. 2 receiver, but as Knox mentioned, it’s about the cost. Cooks’ contract had a $6 million cap hit in 2023, but will cost Dallas $10 million in 2024.

Saving $8 million is tempting considering the Cowboys is already over the cap limit for next season. Cooks is two seasons removed from his last 1000-yard season, and doesn’t seem like he’s going to be hitting those numbers again.

However, he is a reliable veteran with tons of playoff success. He was one of the few bright spots for Dallas in their recent 48-32 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and Dallas may need to keep that kind of trustworthy presence around.

Evan Reier is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. He previously covered sports for the Montana Standard and was a managing editor for Outsider. More about Evan Reier

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Cowboys Could Replace Expensive Starter with ‘Explosive’ 17-TD WR

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