Brandin Cooks has learned through past experiences along with several abrupt changes in NFL employers, geography, quarterbacks and offensive schemes to not get too comfortable and, certainly, not to let emotions override his personal situation.
Cooks prides himself on being stoic, for the most part, and remaining in the moment.
It's a philosophy that has served the Stockton, Calif., native through various changes in scenery in the NFL.
Cooks has a history of being traded for serious draft capital in the past.
A former New Orleans Saints first-round draft pick from Oregon State, Cooks has previously been traded by the Saints to the New England Patriots for first-round and third-round picks, to the Los Angeles Rams for a first-round pick and to the Texans for a second-round draft pick last offseason.
As the 1-6 Texans prepare to square off against the Rams on Sunday at NRG Stadium and try to break a six-game losing streak, Cooks isn't consumed with the past.
“No, I learned the first time being traded to not get your emotions too high going into a game like this," Cooks said. "I have a lot of respect for that organization, a lot of friends still over there. At the end of the day, definitely want to beat them, but from an emotional standpoint, it’s just another game to get better and go out there and play the best ball that I can possibly play.”
Minutes after that interview at NRG Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, Cooks wasn't as even-keeled as he normally is when he learned that veteran running back Mark Ingram, his close friend, was being traded to the New Orleans Saints.
“This is (expletive),” Cooks wrote on social media. “Such a joke.”
Cooks hasn't taken down the post from his verified Twitter account. He practiced Thursday.
Cooks has thrived with the Texans, catching 45 passes for 502 yards and one touchdown on 64 targets. He's also tied for the NFL lead in third-down receptions.
Cooks, who has caught 528 career passes for 7,382 yards and 41 touchdowns, has 4.33 speed in the 40-yard dash. Cooks is a dangerous deep threat who’s also capable of running underneath routes and going across the middle.
On third down, Cooks has excelled with 15 receptions for 230 yards and ties him with the Minnesota Vikings' Justin Jefferson (15 receptions for 236 yards) and Las Vegas Raiders' Hunter Renfrow (15 catches for 161 yards).
“I think it’s huge," Cooks said. "As we all know around the league, receivers often say, ‘Third down, money down.’ At the end of the day, you just give yourself the chance to stay on the field. To be able to be looked at as that guy to be able to make those plays in those times is huge. I just want to continue to build on that.”
Cooks has a proven knack for creating separation, darting past defensive backs to break into the clear and give his quarterback an optimal downfield target.
“If we stay above the chains as well as we should do, when we’ve got third-and-manageable situations, he’s obviously a guy that we go to, and it’s been very effective there," Texans coach David Culley said. "We’ve just got to get in more of those types of situations to be able to execute and do those, and he’s been a big part of that when we’ve been in those situations.”
During the offseason, the Texans restructured Cooks’ five-year, $81 million contract that they acquired in the trade from the Rams.
They created $6.53 million in salary-cap space by paying Cooks a $10 million signing bonus, according to NFL Players Association documents. The Texans lowered Cooks' $12 million salary cap figure to $5.468 million with the $10 million signing bonus and he is due a fully guaranteed $2.5 million base salary in 2021.
They also added voidable years in 2023 and 2024 to spread out the impact of his signing bonus. The deal automatically voids if he's on the roster 15 days prior to the start of the 2023 league year, meaning he could become a free agent after the 2022 season when he’s due a $12.5 million base salary.
Cooks could be due a raise this offseason.
Beyond the contractual changes, Cooks adapted to seismic change at the quarterback position with Deshaun Watson is not expected to ever play for the Texans again due to his displeasure with the organization and his legal issues. A one-time Pro Bowl selection, Taylor is the designated QB1 returned to practice from a hamstring injury after being designated for return from injured reserve. Rookie quarterback Davis Mills represents a potential future.
Cooks is concentrating on his job responsibilities: get open, catch the football and score touchdowns.
Cooks has grown accustomed to change and adapting to new quarterbacks. During his previous NFL stops, Cooks caught passes from Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Jared Goff before building timing with Watson last season after a slow start.
“For me, it doesn’t matter who’s throwing me the ball,” Cooks said. “I’m going to get on the same page with you and figure out how you like things to be done. I put my spin on it and we’re going to go out there and ball. I think I’ve shown that time and time again over the years and whatever the case is, I’m going to continue to show that."
Aaron Wilson has covered the NFL for 20 seasons, including the Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. He has previously written for The Houston Chronicle and The Baltimore Sun. He’s on Twitter: @AaronWilson_NFL and Instagram: @aaronwilson7128.
Photo: Getty Images