Brandin Cooks post-trade deadline cryptic tweets hints at move that never was

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks sent out a message on Twitter after he was not dealt by the Houston Texans at the trade deadline.

The 2022 NFL trade deadline has passed, it was the most active it has been in recent memory. There were 10 trades made ahead of the 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 1. One of the big names that was linked to trade rumors was Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

Despite there being teams in need of a wide receiver at the deadline, the Texans opted to keep Cooks for the remainder of the season.

Three minutes after the trade deadline and remaining with the Texans, Cooks posted a cryptic message on Twitter.

Brandin Cooks posts cryptic tweet after remaining with Texans at NFL trade deadline

“Don’t take a man’s kindness for granted,” wrote Cooks. “Covered for the lies for too long those days are done. Crossed the line with playing with my career.”

On Tuesday, news came out of Houston that Cooks was not at practice, and speculation ran rampant that he was going to be traded. Not to mention that he did like a variety of trade-related tweets. However, it was revealed that Cooks was absent from practice due to personal reasons.

Cooks is under contract through the 2024 season, but there is an opt-out after the 2023 campaign. But for next season, Cooks has a base salary of $18 million and carries a cap hit of $26.6 million.

Through his first two seasons with Houston (2020-21), Cooks recorded over 1,000 receiving yards. Through seven games this season, Cooks caught 32 passes for 354 yards and one touchdown on 53 targets.

Cooks is still on the roster past the trade deadline. The Texans will next place the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football.