Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Brandin Cooks seemingly reacts to not being traded

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 11/1/22

Brandin Cooks was seen as someone who could be traded during a historic NFL trade deadline day. The Houston Texans didn't trade their star receiver, and Cooks made it known after the deadline how unhappy he was to still be in Houston.

Don’t take a man’s kindness for granted. Covered for the lies for too long those days are done. Crossed the line with playing with my career
— Brandin Cooks (@brandincooks) November 1, 2022

In seven games, Cooks has 32 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown. He's in his ninth NFL season and for his career, he has 605 receptions for 8271 yards and 47 touchdowns.

Per Pro Football Reference, his yards per reception in Houston (12.5) is the lowest among his four stops. He began his career playing three seasons in New Orleans before the franchise traded him to New England. Following one year with the Patriots, he was traded once again, this time to the Los Angeles Rams. In 2020, he was traded for the third time and has been in Houston ever since.

The NFL trade market was more active this year than it ever was before, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

There were a record 10 trades made today, the most ever made on any NFL trade deadline day.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2022

Teams such as the Green Bay Packers and the Rams were connected to Cooks and would offer the wide receiver a better shot at making the playoffs than he has in Houston.

Cooks was privy to that fact and his immediate reaction seemingly signifies his frustration by not moving to a contender.

It will be months -- if not years -- before we get a final verdict on what trades were home runs and which ones set franchises back.
Cooks and Houston won't be in those conversations, but with the situation turning into a distraction, we already know the deadline's biggest loser.

More must-reads: