Brandin Cooks is reportedly back on the trade market

The Rams were once aggressive in their admiration of Brandin Cooks, trading a first round pick for him and then extending him for $80 million in 2018, an acquisition that did help them reach the Super Bowl the following season. But Cooks was on the move for the third time in four years and rumor has it that the 1-5 Texans are taking phone calls to make that four trades in four years.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports:

The Texans are devoid of draft assets and carrying several big contracts moving forward, limiting the flexibility of the next front office. Rival executives expect the Texans will trade at least one receiver by the deadline — Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks are the most talked about at this point — and are gauging the market for veteran pass rusher Whitney Mercilus.

Running back Duke Johnson and tight end Darren Fells have also drawn some interest, and teams that have been in contact with Houston believe there is a definite willingness to shed some payroll and reposition the franchise for the future if possible.

It wasn’t long ago that former Texans head coach Bill O’Brien thought that Houston was in position to trade two first round picks for Laremy Tunsil, but the Dolphins also have their second round pick in 2021. In this year’s draft, the Texans didn’t have their first round pick because of the Tunsil deal and didn’t have their second rounder because O’Brien acquired Cooks from Los Angeles.

Cooks has caught 27 of 42 targets for 367 yards and two touchdowns, but in the two games since O’Brien was fired he has caught 17 of 21 passes for 229 yards and both of those scores.

Houston is also open to reportedly shopping Will Fuller, who has caught 28 of 41 targets for 455 yards and four touchdowns. Fuller’s career high is only 670 yards but he is looking to shatter that mark with a healthy season in 2020; two years ago, Fuller was having a similar season before tearing his ACL after seven games.

Any reason to lend thoughts to the idea of the Rams acquiring either player? Probably not.

There are three teams without a first round pick next year: Houston, LA and Seattle. The Seahawks also don’t have their third round pick, while LA doesn’t have their fourth round pick and as noted, the Texans don’t have their second. Those are three teams that don’t have many draft pick assets left to deal.

If Mohamed Sanu was worth a second round pick at the trade deadline last year, Houston is probably hoping to get two second round picks back in return for the receivers they’re offering now.