Though the Dallas Cowboys aren't in the playoffs, there's still plenty for head coach Brian Schottenheimer and company to keep tabs on during the postseason. After all, the team has free agent and trade targets still playing, along with possible coaching additions to get some extra intel on before they possibly speak once the season's officially over.
Of course, there are also former Cowboys who are worth watching, as Dallas could explore some reunions or just keep these ex-contributors in mind for 2026. One such player who fits the bill is wide receiver Brandin Cooks, whose year turned around in a hurry after being traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Buffalo Bills.
On Sunday, Cooks got yet another taste of postseason action, but the results have left plenty surprised.
Ex-Cowboys WR Brandin Cooks Helps His FA Stock with Latest Showings
Cooks turned back the clock with his performance in Buffalo's exciting 27-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 2014 draft pick, who was more of a dart throw for the desperate Bills at the trade deadline, ended up posting the second-highest receiving yards (58) to help take down the upstart Jaguars in Jacksonville.
The 32-year-old flashed some big-time playmaking, including a 36-yard grab on Buffalo's game-winning drive to set up the eventual go-ahead score. This comes on the heels of the vet going off for the Bills in Week 17 as well, where he logged a whopping 101 yards on four catches — his highest yardage mark since the 2023 campaign.
Now, Cooks certainly isn't just an NFL nobody. His 9,811 career receiving yards place him No. 8 among active players and 60th all-time, but it's also been a long while since most have seen him truly stand out on a field. After posting 657 yards in 2023 for the Cowboys, he seemed to be out of gas with a mark of 259 in 2024 and only 178 total yards this entire year before Week 18.
However, Cooks' future is suddenly looking up again as he shows he can still positively contribute in 2026. He doesn't need to just settle, as he did by choosing the Saints more than a week after free agency opened this past offseason. Instead, he could follow a similar path to the one he's on now, targeting a contender like Buffalo that's desperate for a proven talent at the position to possibly help.
The Kansas City Chiefs are a team that could fit the bill in the AFC. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers are an NFC name that may end up pursuing Cooks, considering Bradon Aiyuk's likely exit and Ricky Pearsall proving to be injury-prone in his young career.
The Cowboys are likely content to watch Cooks make plays for other teams after what happened in 2024, and given the development at the backend of their WR depth chart currently, but a reunion could always be up Jerry Jones' sleeve under the right circumstances.