Reported asking price steered Cowboys from Jerry Jeudy to Brandin Cooks

The Dallas Cowboys were bullish in their desire to add another top-tier wide receiver opposite CeeDee Lamb for the coming season.

But before they landed 29-year-old Brandin Cooks from the Houston Texans in exchange for a fifth-round pick in April and a sixth-round pick next spring, the team reportedly had Broncos receiver Jerry Jeudy in their sights. According to David Moore of the 'Dallas Morning News,' the Cowboys balked at Denver's asking price.

“The Denver receiver (Jeudy) is a younger, cheaper of version of Cooks, " Moore wrote. "But the Broncos reportedly (wanted) a first-round pick in return — a price the Cowboys were unwilling to pay.”

Adding smoke to the fire, Benjamin Albright of Sportnaut has also reported that Dallas "checked heavily" on Jeudy before deciding to go all-in with Cooks.

Jeudy, the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, rebounded from missing seven games in 2021 to breaking out this past season, when he posted 67 receptions, 972 yards and six touchdowns — all career bests.

The 23-year-old wideout was rumored to be on the trade block near the NFL trade deadline in the fall as well, but Denver was said to be asking for a first-round draft pick in return — a price which, at least to this point, seems to rich for the rest of the league.

Cooks makes for a fine consolation prize, having logged six 1,000-yard seasons over the last eight years, including four seasons with 80 or more catches and five with six or more touchdowns.

Adding the Oregon State alum into the Dallas fold will presumably open things up for the passing game, which now has speed at both wideout spots with Cooks and Lamb, as well as a solid tertiary option in the person of Michael Gallup, who is just three years removed from an 1,107-yard season and could possibly take over in the slot.