Broncos Urged to Make 'Bold' Trade for Texans WR Brandin Cooks

The Denver Broncos' offense would look quite different with Brandin Cooks' speed.

It’s the NFL offseason, where dreams come true, and practically nothing is outside the realm of possibility. For the Denver Broncos, it's time to ponder potential splash-free agent signings, zany mock drafts, and bold moves.

While many of these potential transactions never reach beyond the early stages of developmental discussion, there's a multitude of realities that could play out from now until the start of the 2023 regular season.

ESPN’s 'Football Outsiders' compiled a “bold move” that each team in the league should consider this offseason. For the Broncos, the group leaned into offensive firepower and “anything to give Russell Wilson a better chance to succeed," suggesting that Denver should trade for a former player under Sean Payton wideout — Brandin Cooks.

On paper, the trio of Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Tim Patrick are all talented. We also haven't seen them all at the same time enough to really judge them -- we didn't see Patrick at all last season after he tore his ACL -- and both Jeudy and Sutton have struggled with injuries of their own on a semi-regular basis. Even when they're all healthy, however, they're missing one aspect -- speed. Sutton notably struggled to separate from defenders this past season, and neither Jeudy nor Patrick exactly take the top off the defense, either; that was a role given to the KJ Hamlers of the world. There is no DK Metcalf-type here for Wilson to bomb the ball out to, no patented pre-Brees-noodle arm deep threat for Sean Payton like Devery Henderson or Robert Meachem...

...Or, for that matter, Cooks. Cooks had three good years with Payton in New Orleans, repeatedly hitting 1,000 yards receiving and topping out at a 11.6% DVOA, which neither Jeudy nor Sutton has ever hit since. While that relationship ended on a bit of a flat note, Cooks and Payton have both expressed respect for one another in recent years. Cooks wants out of Houston; might a reunion be in the cards? It would cost a mid-round draft pick, but give Denver an immediate short-term dynamic option while Payton figures out what to do with the Broncos' offense.

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With all three of Denver's top receivers having missed a fair amount of time over the last three seasons, it’s fair to wonder if the team will ever get the trio healthy and on the field together. Even with this talented triumvirate, ESPN is right about Denver missing one key and exceptionally valuable commodity: speed. 

The article mentions Hamler as a speed option, but he has dealt with more injuries and has been less durable than the previously mentioned trio of maligned Denver pass-catchers. If the Broncos were to acquire receiving help, they would need to add some explosiveness to the offense.

Cooks would be an intriguing option for the Broncos to acquire this offseason. While he will turn 30 at the start of the 2023 season, he has remained reliable over the last three seasons in Houston, missing only six out of 50 regular season games and hauling in 1,150 and 1,037 yards in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Cooks was even more productive to start his career with the Broncos' new head coach. With Payton, Cooks was indeed a consistent 1,000-yard player. 

Cooks was eventually traded to New England for a first and third-round pick. The coach and player apparently still have admiration for one another if what ESPN writes is true.

The Broncos do not currently have ample salary cap or draft capital to make a move for a veteran receiver like Cooks, but with him wanting out of Houston, there's no telling what unlikely events could unfold in the next few weeks and even months. 

With the recent reports that Denver might be listening to offers for its receivers, such as Sutton, perhaps a trade for Cooks to reunite him with Payton isn’t so bold after all.

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