3 dangerous NFC East newcomers Commanders must worry about in 2023
By Dean Jones
Commanders must worry about Brandin Cooks
The Dallas Cowboys have never been big spenders in free agency. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones likes to draft, develop, and reward, which is a method being implemented by Ron Rivera with the Washington Commanders since he joined the team in 2020.
However, the Cowboys did make a couple of notable moves in the trade market. All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore was acquired from the Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Dak Prescott now has another weapon to call upon after Dallas secured the services of Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans.
This is something Cooks has wanted for some time. Dallas was able to acquire the productive wide receiver for fifth and sixth-round picks, which also saw the Texans agree to pay $6 million of the player’s salary in 2023 for good measure.
The former first-round pick might be heading into the twilight of his career, but he remains a dangerous weapon with six 1,000-yard receiving seasons under his belt. Cooks looks set to form a productive wide receiver trio alongside CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, which heightens the urgency for Washington to add another cornerback via the 2023 NFL Draft.
These trades indicate that the Cowboys are once again all-in on mounting a Super Bowl challenge in 2023. This has been a difficult task for a team that hasn’t enjoyed much playoff success over the last three decades.