The Dallas Cowboys added veteran receiver Brandin Cooks to their ranks during free agency, with the trade bringing in a player earning praise for an oft-overlooked strength.

“The versatility of wide receiver play to me, is key,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said, suggesting that Cooks will provide that in Dallas.

Cooks is thought of by some as a “speed only” guy, and he has run a 4.33 40, so that is understandable. But additionally, at 29 and entering his 10th NFL season, he has also developed into a receiver who can play multiple positions. Whether out wide, in the slot, on receiver screens, all of it …

Cooks’ versatility is his biggest weapon – or maybe it’s tied with speed among his weapons.

Said McCarthy: “When you can play an individual inside and outside, obviously it gives him more flexibility, more opportunities for him personally, but it makes the other guys around them better. I think you can see that now with CeeDee (Lamb), his ability to play inside and outside and have that type of versatility.”

Lamb and Cooks atop the targets chart for QB Dak Prescott? It’s easy to see why McCarthy is fired up.

With Cooks totaling six 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his career, there is a level of production the 5-10 receiver expects rom himself. While last year was his lowest receiving yard total since 2019, Cooks believes he still has plenty left to offer the Cowboys.

The offense, now with Cooks, will give quarterback Prescott more weapons. Horizontal and vertical both matter, but last season, at times, Dallas struggled to stretch the field and take the top off a defense.

So where does McCarthy see the best use for Cooks’ talents?

“I think if you’re going to line him up, his outside vertical routes, I think he’s exceptional,” McCarthy said. But …

“You can see the production that he’s really had in every scheme he’s played in, too. We have looked at his route tree, the routes he’s primarily been used at, what he’s been productive at. We’ll pay close attention to that.”