The Houston Texans are a team very clearly in the early stages of a rebuild. They just traded away franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson, adding some more draft capital to help them while they embark on their rebuild. This is a roster that needs help at pretty much every position as it is a nearly clean slate they are starting with. That makes veterans such as Brandin Cooks prime trade candidates this offseason.
Cooks has spent the last two seasons with the Texans, surpassing the 1,000-yard plateau both seasons. But, the Texans don’t have much use for a veteran of his caliber, so trading him for some future assets would make sense.
Any team that struck out in free agency for wide receivers could turn their attention to the 29-year old Cooks who is capable of being a No. 1 wideout for a team. With six 1,000 yard seasons under his belt, Cooks would be a great addition to almost every offense.
Who could be interested in acquiring the veteran? Here are four teams who should try and trade for Brandin Cooks this offseason.
4. New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are in the market for a No. 1 wide receiver. They have a solid group of pass-catchers in Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, Nelson Agholor and N’Keal Harry, but no true go-to player.
Acquiring Cooks from the Texans would push those players into complementary roles, which they are likely better suited for. New England already knows what they are getting from Cooks, as he spent the 2017 season in New England, catching 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns.
New England is hopeful that Mac Jones will take that next step in his development this season. Landing a No. 1 receiver he can rely on would certainly help and Cooks can fill that role.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs pulled off a shocking trade this offseason, moving star wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Hill was traded to the Miami Dolphins, where he subsequently signed a deal making him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, for a boatload of draft picks.
The team pivoted to sign Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who will now join JuJu Smith-Schuster as the team’s top targets at wide receiver. They could certainly use a little more help and swapping some of the draft capital they received for Hill to land Cooks would be a smart move.
Brandin Cooks could assume the role as the team’s No. 1 option for Patrick Mahomes. While not as dynamic as Hill, Cooks is a solid replacement in what would be a much deeper group of pass-catchers in 2022 than it was in 2021.
You will not be able to replace the production of Hill with a single player, so taking a group approach by adding three good ones to the mix is a good way to go about it for Kansas City.
2. Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts addressed their biggest need this offseason by acquiring Matt Ryan from the Atlanta Falcons. He is an upgrade from Carson Wentz, who the Colts traded to the Washington Commanders, at the quarterback position.
They could use some reinforcements in the trenches, as the offensive line needs a left tackle. But another pressing need on the offense is finding some wide receiver help behind Michael Pittman Jr.
Pittman broke out last season, but the team is lacking in the wide receiver department outside of him. The organization likes Parris Campbell, but they cannot count on him given his injury history. T.Y. Hilton is no longer an impact player because of injuries of his own, as well.
Adding Cooks to the mix opposite of Pittman would help take this offense to another level. With Ryan under center, Indianapolis now has a player capable of taking advantage of the weapons around him.
Including Cooks with Pittman and Jonathan Taylor would give the Colts one of the best-skill position trios in the NFL.
1. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers’ depth chart at wide receiver got decimated this offseason. Star wide receiver Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders and a short time after that, Marquez Valdes-Scantling departed in free agency for the Chiefs.
That leaves Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb and Amari Rodgers as the receivers atop the depth chart for Aaron Rodgers to throw the ball to. That is something that needs to change before the season gets underway.
The Packers received first and second-round picks in this year’s draft from the Raiders in exchange for Adams. Using some of that capital to acquire Brandin Cooks from the Texans would provide Rodgers with an established No. 1 receiver that he can rely on all season.
The Packers could still select another wide receiver with one of the other selections, giving them a long-term piece on the perimeter, But, given where those picks are in the draft, there likely won’t be a player that can make an immediate impact in the fashion that Cooks can.
