Browns, Packers trade target goes down the toilet thanks to surprising extension

Teams like the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers who were targeting a trade for wide receiver Brandin Cooks learned that he is not leaving the Houston Texans.

This NFL offseason has been insane in terms of player movement, such as wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams moving to new teams. One name that has been brought up in reports is Brandin Cooks of the Houston Texans. There have been some interested suitors, such as the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers.

Those teams will now have to go back to the drawing board, as multiple reports revealed on Thursday that the Texans and Cooks have agreed to a two-year contract extension. That means he is officially off the trading block.

Texans take Brandin Cooks off trading block, sign him to extension

It is important to note that Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson reported that the Texans did not plan on moving Cooks, but were asking for a second-round draft pick.

The Packers were among many teams that called the Texans about Cooks availability, per insider Jordan Schultz. As noted before, Green Bay pulled off the shocking trade of Adams to Las Vegas in exchange for 2022 first- and second-round draft picks. With Cooks not in play, the Packers will likely have to pivot to the NFL Draft, where they can find a new pass-catcher for Aaron Rodgers in what is a deep class.

Meanwhile, the Browns were reportedly interested in Cooks, per Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, where he would potentially reunited with former Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson. Yet, the odds of a trade actually happening were considered low. The Browns brought in a wide receiver in Amari Cooper via a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, but could use some depth. Whether that is bringing in a veteran free agent or using one of their Day 2 draft picks to select a rookie.

For those teams that were hoping the Texans would consider flipping Cooks to them received the news that it is not going to happen. Cooks is in Houston to stay.