Grade the Trade: Ravens land Brandin Cooks from Cowboys in B/R proposal

The Baltimore Ravens will unturn every stone as they try to get Lamar Jackson the best wide receiver room possible. This may even include calling a Dallas Cowboys team that could be willing to part ways with speedy veteran Brandin Cooks as they try to retain some of their more highly-touted free agents.

Baltimore's wide receiver room is still quite thin, as two players on rookie contracts with a grand total of zero 1,000-yard seasons between them in Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman are expected to lead this passing attack. Cooks, meanwhile, brings pedigree and electricity.

Bleacher Report seems to believe that Baltimore will opt for a veteran like Jackson instead of a riskier young player in the 2024 NFL Draft. This deal has Cooks getting traded once again, coming to Baltimore to help yet another contender chase championship glory.

The Cowboys might not be too willing to deal Cooks unless they have their heart set on a big-fish free agent or a standout player in the Draft. However, given Jerry Jones' history of falling in love with big names, Cooks' name may still be in the rumor mill as a possible veteran piece who could be discarded.

Grade the Trade: B/R sends Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks to Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens would take on a $10 million contract for Cooks. Considering that is less money than what Beckham signed for last year in an inflated wide receiver market that is set to pay the top names over $20 million per season, that price isn't too outrageous for a player of Cooks' caliber.

Even after the worst season of his career as the fourth passing option in Dallas, the 30-year-old Cooks still managed to pile up 657 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. The speed that made him such a deadly vertical threat in his prime is still there, which should be a big boost for Jackson and the offense.

Cooks could step in alongside Flowers and Rashod Bateman in Baltimore's 11 personnel sets, making the newly signed Nelson Agholor the WR4 next year. At the cost of a few late draft picks, which could have been used to pick a wide receiver anyway, Cooks could be an instant impact player.

The Ravens landing Cooks without giving up anything more than a Day 3 draft pick would be an aboslute home run of a trade, as the risk they are incurring with this trade is minimal. Landing a WR2 for just $10 million per season is a steal in this current market.

Grade: A-