Last year, Cooks signed a 3 year contract for almost $40 million, $36 million guaranteed. There was also another $8 million in bonus allocation on the books from the restructure the previous year. The Texans still owe Cooks his $18 million guaranteed salary this year, with over $16 million in bonus allocation, spread over 2023 and 2024.I don't pretend to know anything about the cap, but according to overthecap.com, trading Cooks after June 1 results in $8.1mil dead money and $18.3mil savings.
I'm not sure how that impacts 2024 and beyond, if at all
If the Texans trade Cooks at any time before the season starts, the team that trades for Cooks pays his $18 million salary. Unless...the trade agreement has the Texans paying a portion of that salary. Regardless, the Texans still have the $16 million bonus allocation (money paid to Cooks in 2021 & 2022) on the books. If the trade occurs after June 1st, the Texans are allowed to spread that cap hit over 2023 & 2024. So the dead money (Money against the cap for a player no longer on the team) would be over $8 million for each season. If the Texans were to agree to pay a portion of Cooks 2023 salary, that would be on the 2023 salary cap total.
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