Wide receiver Brandin Cooks #13 of the Houston Texans warms up before a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Steve Marcus/Getty ImagesAfter much speculation regarding the future of Brandin Cooks, the Houston Texans ultimately decided not to move the veteran receiver before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline.
Within minutes of the 3 p.m. CT deadline passing, Cooks hopped on social media and fired off a cryptic tweet. Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reported earlier in the day that Cooks had been excused from practice for "personal reasons."
"Don't take a man's kindness for granted," Cooks wrote on Twitter. "Covered for the lies for too long those days are done. Crossed the line with playing with my career."
Complicating the situation regarding a potential trade of Cooks is a two-year contract extension he signed back in April, which included $36 million in guaranteed money. He is due a guaranteed salary of $18 million for the 2023 season.
According to ESPN's Ed Werder, the Dallas Cowboys and Texans discussed a possible trade involving Cooks "until the final minutes before the NFL trade deadline expired," but "draft pick compensation and the $18M guaranteed salary for Cooks in 2023 could not be resolved in time."
Cooks is Houston's leading receiver this season, with 32 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown. However, Nico Collins—who has appeared in one fewer games than Cooks—has a slight edge in receiving yards per contest. Cooks, now age 29, has led the Texans in receiving each year since joining the team prior to the 2020 season, surpassing 1,000 yards with six touchdown catches in both 2020 and 2021.
Houston is currently slated to receive the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, sitting at 1-5-1 through seven games.