The Cleveland Browns took a huge risk last offseason when they acquired Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. They decided to all in with Watson as their new franchise quarterback, sending the Browns three first-round picks, and six draft picks overall, to get a deal done. On top of that, they signed him to a $230 million extension, committing to him long-term.
His first action with the team was underwhelming, which isn’t all too surprising. Before stepping on the field in Week 12 on December 4th, 2022, the last time that Watson had taken the field was January 3rd, 2021.
There is a good amount of rust that needs to be worked off and it showed. Watson completed only 58.2 percent of his passes for 1,102 yards with seven touchdowns compared to five interceptions.
Cleveland is certainly hoping those numbers improve with a full offseason to learn the playbook and build a rapport with his teammates. However, if the Browns want to ensure that he can get back on track, upgrading the skill positions around him would be a good idea.
The pieces are there for the Browns to have an elite offense. Nick Chubb is one of the best running backs in the NFL and Amari Cooper is a legitimate No. 1 option at wide receiver. The offensive line is one of the better ones in the NFL, but this unit is missing one more piece to take things over the top. Could that missing piece be wide receiver Brandin Cooks?
Cooks has spent the last three seasons with the Texans and is looking to move on this offseason. Already having a rapport with Watson, the veteran speedster makes for a good target.
Over at Bleacher Report, a trade was proposed that would land Cooks with the Browns. Cleveland would send the No. 99 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and a 2024 third-round pick to Houston in exchange for Cooks.
Leading up to the trade deadline, the Texans were reportedly seeking a second-round pick in exchange for him, but that wasn’t a price any team was willing to meet. His contract played a big part in that. But, in desperate need of an upgrade and with the price lowered, the Browns take the plunge and acquire Cooks in this scenario.
Cooks would be an ideal pairing alongside Cooper and push Donovan Peoples-Jones to the No. 3 role. That would give Watson three starting-caliber wide receivers to target and raise the ceiling of this offense, taking pressure off of Cooper. Cooks’ ability to take the top off of defenses makes him an ideal fit for this offense with Watson at the helm.
