Cowboys' young core learning from experienced WR

Brandin Cooks served as a mentor during springtime workouts for new Dallas Cowboys teammates such as fellow wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup. 

"I’m a visual learner and I’m just watching him as he runs his routes, the way he preps, the way he practices, how he goes about his business. I love each and every part of it," Lamb said about Cooks, per Todd Archer of ESPN. "I mean, he’s a professional to a 'T.' My coach told me bringing him in will be the best thing for me and it is." 

Cooks joined the Cowboys from the Houston Texans via a trade in March after he reportedly wanted to leave Houston last fall. The 29-year-old later made it known he "couldn’t be more hungry" to chase a Super Bowl ring with Dallas after escaping the often-rebuilding Texans, and Cooks insisted in April he has "no ego" as it pertains to possibly losing targets to Lamb and Gallup. 

The veteran has already proven to be a useful asset long before Dallas' regular-season opener at the New York Giants on Sept. 10. 

"He tells everybody, 'When you're done with this, you're done with that, make sure you stretch. Make sure you do what you're supposed to do so you can stay in [the] league as long as you possibly can,'" Gallup added about Cooks. "That's one of the biggest things right now. Football, that's going to be there. We got in the league for a reason. But he's over here talking about how you stay in the league." 

Of course, the Cowboys acquired Cooks for his speed and ability to make plays as a home-run hitter and overall weapon in the passing attack. According to ESPN stats, the 2014 first-round draft pick led all Houston players last season with 57 catches, 93 targets and 699 receiving yards to go along with three touchdown grabs. 

Cooks' overall importance to the 2023 Cowboys will eventually be determined by his on-the-field production. For now, it's clear those inside the Dallas locker room would give the team's March trade with Houston an "A+" grade.