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5 potential trade candidates for the Dallas Cowboys
Yahoo Sports examines five potential trade candidates for the Dallas Cowboys
Brandin Cooks
WR · FA · 32 yrs · exp 12 · Oregon State
Status
- Game status
- Active
Keep Trade Cut (SF TEP)
From latest snapshot · trend vs ~7d prior when data allows.
Value
468
Rank
#540
Pos rank
#188
7d trend
—
Value history (90d)
One snapshot point per calendar day (shown in your timezone).
Latest: Sep 4, 2026 · 468
News
Stories linked to this player — newest first.
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Stephen Jones believes 'it's realistic' to keep CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens long term
The Steelers all but gave away George Pickens in the 2025 offseason, trading him to the Cowboys for a third-round pick. The wide receiver set new career highs with 93 catches for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns and made his first Pro Bowl. CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys’ No. 1 wideout, had 75 receptions for 1,077 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games last season. The Cowboys have both back for this season, but with Pickens playing 2026 under the one-year, $27.3 million franchise tag, the team will have a decision to make in 2027. Do the Cowboys try to keep both? If they keep only one, which one? The Cowboys have $94 million a year currently committed to Dak Prescott and Lamb. If Pickens has another season like last season, he will want to be paid at the top or near the top of the wide receiver market, which is led by Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s $42.150 million per season. Executive vice president Stephen Jones noted that the Cowboys will pay defensive tackle Quinnen Williams but said he believes they can find a way to keep Lamb and Pickens. “Yeah, just you got to tell me the rest [of our spending], too,” Jones told Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports. “At some point, you’ve got to figure that out. But no, I think it’s realistic .” In 2021, Lamb’s second season, he passed Amari Cooper as the team’s No. 1 wide receiver. The Cowboys shipped Cooper to the Browns for a fifth-round pick and spent the next four years looking for a No. 2 wide receiver until they acquired Pickens. Dallas had three different wideouts (Noah Brown, Brandin Cooks and Jalen Tolbert) as their second-leading wideout behind Lamb in the three seasons from 2022-24. The Cowboys’ 4,527 passing yards in 2025 ranked second only to the Rams and, with all 11 starters back, prompted Prescott this offseason to name the team’s offense the Greatest Offense There Is (GOTI). Few teams have the duo that the Cowboys have in Lamb and Pickens. “I’d say the two of them did pretty damn good,” Jones told Epstein. “Would you take that again? Hell, yeah, you would. But can they be better? I think they can. And the good news is it’s not like we’re naked without them.” Lamb already is campaigning the Cowboys to find a way to keep Pickens, knowing it makes his job easier. “I’m sure we can make a way,” Lamb told Epstein. “I know it’s going to be a little crazy, but I know we can make a way for this one. Listen, this is my advocation: '@ Jerry, can you please figure out a way? Let’s figure it out. I don’t care what needs to happen.’ “‘Let’s figure it out and it’s going to get you a couple more championships.’”
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Cowboys countdown to kickoff: Top 100 iconic games – Day 59
It is Day 59 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed. We’re now on Day 59 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff, when we revisit a Thanksgiving blowout that became historic because of one unbelievable defensive play. The Cowboys entered Thanksgiving 2023 at 7-3, still perfect at home and trying to keep pressure on Philadelphia in the NFC East. Washington came in at 4-7, with Sam Howell throwing for a ton of yards but also taking sacks and turning the ball over at a high rate. Dallas did not explode immediately. The Cowboys’ first touchdown came late in the first quarter after a 90-yard drive, with Prescott finding Rico Dowdle for a 15-yard score. Washington answered in the second quarter with a Joey Slye field goal, but Dallas regained control before halftime. Prescott found Brandin Cooks for a 31-yard touchdown, Tony Pollard scored from seven yards out with 26 seconds left in the half, and the Cowboys went to the locker room up 20-10. The third quarter was quiet on the scoreboard, but the fourth quarter became a holiday avalanche. Brandon Aubrey opened the quarter with a 52-yard field goal, then Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb for a 15-yard touchdown and found Lamb again for the two-point conversion. A few minutes later, Prescott connected with KaVontae Turpin for a 34-yard touchdown, stretching the lead to 38-10 and turning the game into a full Thanksgiving party at AT&T Stadium. Then came the historic moment of the day. With 4:39 left, Howell threw toward the sideline, DaRon Bland jumped the route, and suddenly history was in motion. He intercepted the pass, spun away from traffic, dodged multiple Washington players, and returned it 63 yards for a touchdown. It was his fifth pick-six of the 2023 season, breaking the NFL single-season record for interception returns for touchdowns. The play put Dallas ahead 45-10 and transformed an already-dominant win into one of the most memorable Thanksgiving games in Cowboys and NFL history. This game belongs on the countdown because it was more than another Thanksgiving rout. It was the day Bland turned a great season into a record-breaking one, doing it on one of the NFL’s most visible stages. The Cowboys improved to 8-3, extended their home winning streak, and gave fans the perfect holiday celebration. DaRon Bland’s pick-six was his fifth of the 2023 season, breaking the NFL single-season record. He passed Eric Allen , Jim Kearney, and Ken Houston, who had shared the previous record with four. Countdown To Kickoff by day: 1 00 , 99 , 98 , 97 , 96 , 95 , 94 , 93 , 92 , 91 , 90 , 89 , 88 , 87 , 86 , 85 , 84 , 83 , 82 , 81 , 80 , 79 , 78 , 77 , 76 , 75 , 74 , 73 , 72 , 71 , 70 , 69 , 68 , 67 , 66 , 65 , 64 , 63 , 62 , 61 , 60
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Mecole Hardman Jr. will have to prove himself as a returner to contribute in 2026
Mecole Hardman Jr. signed a one-year reserve/futures contract with the Bills in January, with a cap hit of $1.1 million if he makes the 53-man roster. His $1.3 million base salary is fully guaranteed if he makes the team Week One, but Buffalo can release him before then without dead cap charge. Hardman Jr. spent the offseason with the Green Bay Packers, catching three of eight targets for 30 yards in the preseason, and adding one 14-yard rush. His ability to contribute in 2026 will depend on his performance as a returner
QB · BUF
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Brandin Cooks expects to sign with some team before training camp, hopes it's the Bills
Pro Football TalkSource ↗
Free agent wide receiver Brandin Cooks doesn’t plan to be a free agent much longer. Cooks told Tim Graham of TheAthletic.com that he’s looking forward to being in some team’s training camp in a few weeks, and he hopes to return to Buffalo, where he finished last season. “Obviously, Buffalo is the place I’d love to be ,” Cooks said. “I want to prove that to them and have a full offseason with them. Both sides are figuring things out. We’ll see, but hopefully something transpires because I love going to training camp. That’s where you build that callus.” Cooks said he has been staying in shape this offseason and wants to play with a contender. Cooks thinks the Bills are contenders as long as they have Josh Allen at quarterback. “I chose Buffalo because of the belief in Josh Allen,” Cooks said. “From afar, you heard the things going on inside the receiver room. In my mind, ‘OK, this was an opportunity where you got guys that can play, but also there’s a niche in there where, if I can come in and do what I have to do, I’m contributing.’ It was the totality of things, but who wouldn’t want to play with Josh Allen?” Cooks has played for the Saints, Patriots, Rams, Texans, Cowboys and Bills, and he is closing in on 10,000 career receiving yards. He’s accomplished a lot in his NFL career, but he doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring. That’s his chief priority this year
QB · BUF
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Brandin Cooks expects to sign with some team before training camp, hopes it's the Bills
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
Free agent wide receiver Brandin Cooks doesn't plan to be a free agent much longer. Cooks told Tim Graham of TheAthletic.com that he's looking forward to being in some team's training camp in a few weeks, and he hopes to return to Buffalo , where he finished last season. “Obviously, Buffalo is the place I’d love to be ,” Cooks said. “I want to prove that to them and have a full offseason with them. Both sides are figuring things out. We’ll see, but hopefully something transpires because I love going to training camp. That’s where you build that callus.” Cooks said he has been staying in shape this offseason and wants to play with a contender. Cooks thinks the Bills are contenders as long as they have Josh Allen at quarterback. “I chose Buffalo because of the belief in Josh Allen,” Cooks said. “From afar, you heard the things going on inside the receiver room. In my mind, ‘OK, this was an opportunity where you got guys that can play, but also there’s a niche in there where, if I can come in and do what I have to do, I’m contributing.’ It was the totality of things, but who wouldn’t want to play with Josh Allen?” Cooks has played for the Saints, Patriots, Rams , Texans, Cowboys and Bills, and he is closing in on 10,000 career receiving yards. He's accomplished a lot in his NFL career, but he doesn't have a Super Bowl ring. That's his chief priority this year
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Brandin Cooks: I still feel like it was a catch
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
In overtime of the divisional playoff game in Denver , Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks had a catch in his hands at the Broncos ' 20-yard line that would have put Buffalo in range for the game-winning field goal and sent the Bills to the AFC Championship Game. But Denver's Ja’Quan McMillian ripped the ball out of Cooks' arms for an interception, and the Broncos kicked a game-winning field goal of their own on the next possession. Cooks still can't believe it. “For a week straight, I was watching it over and over ,” Cooks told Tim Graham of TheAthletic.com. “But I knew, as a father, that I had to put it away. If I’d have kept watching, it would have put me in some type of mood that my wife and my kids didn’t deserve.” The NFL has confirmed that the official's call of an interception was correct, but Cooks thinks he had possession and was down before McMillian got the ball from him. “I will continue to process it until I get back on the field,” Cooks said, “but I think the biggest thing I can say is that I still feel like it was a catch. After it happened, seeing some of the so-called controversial calls that were called a catch, I just had to turn the playoffs off because I’m like, ‘Yo, what is going on?’ For me, the way that my mind operates is, ‘OK, what can I do about it?’ And what I can do about it is get back on the field, continue to work on being the best that I can be and making sure next time it’s a catch-and-run for a touchdown and leave it in no one else’s hands.” If Cooks had completed the catch, the Bills would have spent the next week preparing to face the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, not firing head coach Sean McDermott. The Bills might have gone to the Super Bowl, and Josh Allen certainly would have given the Patriots' defense a tougher test than Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham gave New England in the AFC Championship. And Broncos quarterback Bo Nix would have gone into the offseason healthy rather than spending the offseason rehabbing the broken ankle that he suffered just before the Broncos' game-winning field goal. These are thoughts Cooks has often. “It doesn’t keep me up or give me unhealthy flashbacks," Cooks said. "But from a competitive nature, I still think about not winning the Super Bowl as if it happened yesterday.”
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Brandin Cooks: I still feel like it was a catch
Pro Football TalkSource ↗
In overtime of the divisional playoff game in Denver, Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks had a catch in his hands at the Broncos’ 20-yard line that would have put Buffalo in range for the game-winning field goal and sent the Bills to the AFC Championship Game. But Denver’s Ja’Quan McMillian ripped the ball out of Cooks’ arms for an interception, and the Broncos kicked a game-winning field goal of their own on the next possession. Cooks still can’t believe it. “For a week straight, I was watching it over and over ,” Cooks told Tim Graham of TheAthletic.com. “But I knew, as a father, that I had to put it away. If I’d have kept watching, it would have put me in some type of mood that my wife and my kids didn’t deserve.” The NFL has confirmed that the official’s call of an interception was correct, but Cooks thinks he had possession and was down before McMillian got the ball from him. “I will continue to process it until I get back on the field,” Cooks said, “but I think the biggest thing I can say is that I still feel like it was a catch. After it happened, seeing some of the so-called controversial calls that were called a catch, I just had to turn the playoffs off because I’m like, ‘Yo, what is going on?’ For me, the way that my mind operates is, ‘OK, what can I do about it?’ And what I can do about it is get back on the field, continue to work on being the best that I can be and making sure next time it’s a catch-and-run for a touchdown and leave it in no one else’s hands.” If Cooks had completed the catch, the Bills would have spent the next week preparing to face the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, not firing head coach Sean McDermott. The Bills might have gone to the Super Bowl, and Josh Allen certainly would have given the Patriots’ defense a tougher test than Broncos backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham gave New England in the AFC Championship. And Broncos quarterback Bo Nix would have gone into the offseason healthy rather than spending the offseason rehabbing the broken ankle that he suffered just before the Broncos’ game-winning field goal. These are thoughts Cooks has often. “It doesn’t keep me up or give me unhealthy flashbacks,” Cooks said. “But from a competitive nature, I still think about not winning the Super Bowl as if it happened yesterday.”
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Cowboys countdown to kickoff: Top 100 iconic games – Day 83
It is Day 83 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff. We are looking back at the 100 most iconic games in Dallas Cowboys history. The countdown will leads us right up to the opening game of 2026. Our look back doesn’t depend on just one criteria for our rankings. We take into consideration things like how big the game was for the organization, how memorable the game was, games that had unusual events take place, games that are a part of NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and games where the Cowboys just plain dominated. Variety is the spice of life and we have all different kind of Cowboys games to review. At the bottom, we’ll link each day of the countdown so you can go back and check out any you missed. It’s Day 83 of our 100-day countdown to kickoff and we revisit one of the most entertaining regular-season games of the Mike McCarthy-Dak Prescott era. The Cowboys entered Thursday Night Football at 8-3, unbeaten at home, and trying to keep pace near the top of the NFC. Seattle came in at 6-5 and badly needed a win to strengthen its own playoff position. What followed was a wild 76-point shootout with five lead changes, no punts, massive receiver performances, and just enough late-game execution from Dallas to survive. Dallas started with a Brandon Aubrey field goal, but Seattle immediately answered with a 73-yard touchdown from Geno Smith to D.K. Metcalf. Dak Prescott responded by finding CeeDee Lamb for a 15-yard score, and the first quarter ended with Dallas ahead 10-7. That set the tone for the night. Every time one team landed a punch, the other had an answer. The second quarter was just as frantic. Brandin Cooks caught a seven-yard touchdown from Prescott to push Dallas ahead 17-7, but Seattle rallied behind a Zach Charbonnet touchdown run and a one-yard Metcalf score just before halftime. Despite Dallas scoring 20 first-half points, the Cowboys went into the locker room trailing 21-20. Seattle stretched the lead in the third quarter when Smith ran for a five-yard touchdown, making it 28-20. Tony Pollard answered with a six-yard touchdown run, but early in the fourth quarter Metcalf struck again, catching his third touchdown of the night to put Seattle up 35-27. At that point, the Cowboys were in real trouble. That is when the game became a test of late-game execution. Aubrey cut the deficit to 35-30 with a 38-yard field goal, and the Dallas defense finally started making stops. DeMarcus Lawrence stuffed Charbonnet on fourth-and-1 near midfield, giving Prescott the opening he needed. Prescott then led the go-ahead drive and found Jake Ferguson for a 12-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion to Cooks made it 38-35 Dallas. Aubrey later added a 32-yard field goal to make it 41-35, but Seattle still had one more chance. Smith moved the Seahawks toward midfield, only for the Dallas pass rush to heat up at the perfect time. On the final meaningful snap, Micah Parsons pressured Smith into a fourth-down incompletion, sealing a chaotic and badly needed Cowboys win. Prescott was excellent, finishing 29-of-41 for 299 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 115.8 passer rating. Lamb caught 12 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown, Ferguson added six catches for 77 yards and the decisive fourth-quarter score, and Aubrey went 4-for-4 on field goals. Seattle got a monster night from Metcalf, who caught six passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns, while Smith threw for 334 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. This game belongs on the countdown because it showed a different kind of Cowboys win. Dallas had spent much of the 2023 home schedule blowing teams out, but this one demanded poise. The defense struggled, penalties piled up, and Seattle repeatedly looked ready to steal it. Instead, Prescott kept answering, Aubrey stayed perfect, and the Cowboys made three late fourth-down stops to escape with one of the most dramatic wins of the season. This was just the fifth regular-season game in NFL history with zero combined [... truncated ...]
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Cowboys countdown to kickoff: Top 100 iconic games – Day 89
As part of a 100-day countdown to the 2026 season, this article revisits an iconic and controversial 2023 game where the Dallas Cowboys narrowly defeated the Detroit Lions 20-19. Key plays included a 92-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb and a crucial field goal by Brandon Aubrey. The game also featured a confusing two-point conversion sequence and an interception by Donovan Wilson
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Myles Garrett trade proves Les Snead’s aggressive side never left
General manager Les Snead has shown his aggressive tendencies again this offseason with several blockbuster trades, most notably acquiring Myles Garrett. This follows a period after the Rams' Super Bowl win where Snead made fewer significant moves. Snead, known for his 'F them picks' mentality, has a history of trading away first-round picks for established stars like Brandin Cooks, Jalen Ramsey, and Matthew Stafford, moves that have contributed to the team's success
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The Rams don’t care about 1st-round picks, and somehow it works
Conventional football logic has always told us that building through the draft is the only way to form a contender, but the Los Angeles Rams have gone full L.A. on that notion, following the Lakers path to flashy deals and quick rebuilds. Instead of biding their time and being patient, the Rams make big, bold, brash deals to bring in some of the sport’s biggest stars — and yet it all works. In looking back at the team’s draft history they have only made three picks in the first round going all the way back to 2016, and two of those guys have since been traded away. The latest came from Jared Verse , who was selected by the Rams in the 1st round in 2024 and made two Pro Bowls with the organization. He was shipped off on Monday as part of a package that brought Defensive Player of the Year pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Rams . It’s turned Los Angeles into the immediate Super Bowl favorite by a sizable margin, as the team continues to test how far it can push its window back open in order to bring home another ring. This path has led to the Rams winning a Super Bowl in 2021, losing one in 2018 — as well as making the playoffs in seven of the last nine seasons. It’s actually working. Let’s take a stroll back through memory lane and see what the Rams have done with their 1st round draft picks in the last decade. 2016: QB Jared Goff — Traded to Detroit as part of a package for QB Matthew Stafford 2017: Traded to Tennessee to move up and take Jared Goff in 2016 2018: Traded to New England for WR Brandin Cooks and a 4th round pick 2019: Traded with a 4th rounder to Atlanta for their 2nd and 3rd round picks 2020: Traded with a 4th rounder and 2020 1st round to Jacksonville for CB Jalen Ramsey 2021: Traded to finalize Jalen Ramsey trade with Jacksonville 2022: Traded to Detroit Lions as part of package for QB Matthew Stafford 2023: Traded to finalize Matthew Stafford trade with Detroit 2024: DE Jared Verse 2025: Traded to Atlanta Falcons for a 2nd round pick, 7th round pick, and 1st round pick in 2026 2026: Traded to Kansas City Chiefs for CB Trent McDuffie . Used Atlanta pick to select QB Ty Simpson This approach seemingly makes no sense, because it doesn’t — except for the fact that the Rams have really nailed making picks in the later rounds of the draft. This team has consistently found talent in surprising places, and that has led to a scenario where they are able to compete every year without building young players from scratch. Over this same 10 year span these are the players the Rams have found outside of the 1st round: Cooper Kupp : 3rd round, 2017 Taylor Rapp : 2nd round, 2019 David Edwards : 5th round, 2019 Ernest Jones , 3rd round 2021 Kyren Williams , 5th round 2022 Byron Young , 3rd round 2023 Kobie Turner , 3rd round 2023 Puka Nacua , 5th round 2023 Nobody is better at tossing aside their first-round players and finding value later in the draft than the Rams. Maybe this should be a lesson for Ty Simpson: Perhaps you should just rent a place for now, and see if you end up somewhere different in the near future
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NFL Christmas Day schedule 2026: Netflix to air Packers-Bears, Bills-Broncos, with Seahawks-Rams on Fox
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
For the third year in a row, Netflix will be the platform of choice for Christmas Day. The streaming service will air two high-profile NFL games on the holiday, including a big matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears . In addition to the Packers going on the road against their division rivals, the other Netflix X-mas matchup will see the Buffalo Bills travel to face the Denver Broncos . It’ll be the first time the two teams meet since the 2026 AFC Divisional Round, which ended in controversy when a suspected catch by wide receiver Brandin Cooks was ruled an interception by Denver. The other game on the holiday will also be a doozy, with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the Los Angeles Rams in a game that will be broadcast on Fox. Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament Netflix is expanding its offering of NFL games this season. While the platform will stream its two Christmas Day games as usual, it will also broadcast the Week 1 Australia game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, the Thanksgiving Eve game and a Week 18 game with playoff implications. Christmas Day falls on a Friday in 2026, giving NFL fans the unusual treat of getting three games on Friday evening. All but one of these teams (the Seahawks) will also play as part of a busy Thanksgiving weekend . The Packers will face the Rams in the first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game; the Bears will go on the road to face the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, followed by Buffalo hosting the Kansas City chiefs . Denver will then play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Black Friday. The NFL will release its full schedule on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. This story will be updated
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Seahawks-Rams, Packers-Bears, Bills-Broncos highlight NFL's Christmas Day slate in 2026
Yahoo Sports NFLSource ↗
Netflix will stream two NFL games on Christmas Day 2026: Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos. The Seattle Seahawks will host the Los Angeles Rams on Fox. This is the third consecutive year Netflix will broadcast Christmas Day NFL games. The Bills-Broncos game will be a rematch of a controversial 2026 AFC divisional round game. The NFL schedule release also includes games on Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving Eve, Thanksgiving Day, and Black Friday
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