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Brandin Cooks has played for some contenders over the years, and the 2014 NFL Draft first-round pick has been around the league for a minute. Since joining the league, Brandin Cooks has served as a reliable deep ball threat, thanks to his commendable skillset as a pass catcher. His talents have earned him multiple above-five touchdown seasons, which is the silver standard for second-option wide receivers.
However, since joining the Houston Texans in 2020, he has been receiving less and less targets. He seemingly has become more or less an afterthought on one of the weakest teams in the NFL. This season seems similar to his last one in Los Angeles, as he is well on course to finish the year with less than five touchdowns, an unfortunate feat for a player of his ilk.
So it begs the questions, where did it all go wrong for Cooks, and what can he and his team do to remedy this slump in form? Well, a trade might be in the offing. Here, we will look at his potential destinations.
Brandin Cooks' potential trade destinations
The Oregon State alum is a speedster, and his sense of urgency could be an x-factor for several teams around the league. Here are three teams that might find his skillset handy.
1. Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings have an offense that is caters to the outward talents of Justin Jefferson. It looks like Kirk Cousins has mastered the art of forcing the ball down Jefferson's path. However, such a game plan can be risky come playoff time. The reason is that great defensive coordinators will know how to box out Jefferson, Unfortunately, the Vikings don't have any option that brings a different prospect to the table.
This is where Brandin Cooks comes in, as the current Houston Texan operates much differently than Jefferson. He can use the space afforded by defenses occupied with the All-Pro-caliber Jefferson. Moreover, judging by Cooks' career stats, he has never buckled at the adversity of changing franchises mid-season.
2. Los Angeles Rams
Cooks played for the Rams for two years, the 2018 and 2019 NFL seasons, and the pass catcher made a decent impression. Yes, the second season might have been forgettable, but that doesn't mean we will discredit just how efficient the first was.
The Rams are over-reliant on Cooper Kupp, and Odell Beckham is still a free agent. Trading for Brandin Cooks will enable the Rams to rest Kupp for a few more snaps and stop the Odell Beckham Jr. chase, which seems to be unending at this moment.
3. New York Giants
Daniel Jones and the New York Giants are cooking. The New York team is shocking every critic in the 2022 NFL season. They have lost one solitary game, and even that loss looked like it could have been avoided with some extra bodies in the offense.
Adding a player as shifty as Brandin Cooks might do the trick, as the wideout has a low center of gravity that might pose a matchup nightmare in several situations. Also, the Kenny Golladay thing doesn't look like it's working, and after two seasons, it might be time for the Giants to go a different route.
Brandin Cooks' Timeline
Brandin Cooks is an American wide receiver who plays for the Houston Texans. He was drafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. Cooks was drafted as the 20th pick of that draft by the New Orleans Saints, a team he would play on for three years before he moved on to pastures anew. Since then, he has competed for (and with varying degrees of success) the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, and the Houston Texans.
During his career, Brandin Cooks has amassed a stat line of 605 receptions from 925 targets, 8,271 receiving yards, and 47 total touchdowns scored while playing for the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, and the Houston Texans.
