5 Key Stories: 4/3/22 – 4/9/22

Here’s a look back at the week that was in the NFL:

• Texans Re-Up Brandin Cooks: On Thursday, the Texans re-upped Brandin Cooks on a brand-new two-year extension. The deal — worth roughly $40MM with $36M in guarantees — takes the standout wide receiver off of the trade market following weeks of speculation about his future. Previously, Cooks was set to earn $12.5MM in base salary this season, the final season of his five-year, $81MM extension from 2018. Now, he’ll build on his work in Houston, where he’s topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the last two years.
• Saints Acquire First-Round Pick From Eagles: With a few weeks to go before the draft, the Saints moved up two spots in the first round. The Eagles received pick Nos. 18, 101, and 237, plus a 2013 first-rounder and a 2024 second-rounder. In exchange, the Saints get No. 16 overall, plus No. 19 and No. 194 in this year’s draft. New Orleans now has additional ammo in this year’s draft, while Philly can potentially plan for a move in a 2023 draft that is expected to feature a better crop of quarterbacks.
• Ravens Re-Sign Calais Campbell: Calais Campbell is staying with the Ravens after agreeing to a two-year deal worth up to $16.5MM. The deal also contains $6MM in guaranteed money, locking in much of what could be his final NFL contract. While Campbell left the door open to retirement, he later confirmed that he wanted to stick around for at least another season. “It just felt like the right move,” Campbell said. “I feel like we started something special and we have unfinished business there.”
• Eagles Meet With Tyrann Mathieu: Tyrann Mathieu is still on the market, but the Eagles might bring his free agency to an end. Although they re-signed Anthony Harris, the Eagles have an opening alongside him at safety. Mathieu could take over at Rodney McLeod‘s long-held spot, but it’d cost the Eagles much more than Harris’ one-year, $2.5MM deal.
• Dwayne Haskins Dead At 24: Former Ohio State standout and first-round pick Dwayne Haskins died after being run over by a truck over the weekend. The quarterback, who would have turned 25 in May, enjoyed an extraordinary run with the Buckeyes and parlayed his success into a first-round selection. After two years in Washington, Haskins spent the 2021 season with the Steelers. “I am devastated and at a loss for words with the unfortunate passing of Dwayne Haskins,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “He quickly became part of our Steelers family upon his arrival in Pittsburgh and was one of our hardest workers, both on the field and in our community. Dwayne was a great teammate, but even more so a tremendous friend to so many. I am truly heartbroken.”