With the coaching staff now in order under new head coach Josh McDaniels, the Las Vegas Raiders can now focus on their roster and potential upgrades they can make. One area of improvement the team could very well be focused on is their receiving corps.
Hunter Renfrow made his first Pro Bowl appearance this season, but things are pretty questionable after him. Bryan Edwards and Zay Jones each showed flashes but were inconsistent, and while tight end Darren Waller is one of the game’s best, he struggled with injuries this past season.
As such, the Raiders have been linked with Green Bay Packers star receiver Davante Adams, but according to Hondo Carpenter of Sports Illustrated, there is another wide receiver the Raiders could have their eyes on:
“Brandin Cooks, keep close tabs on him.”
Cooks has long been one of the NFL’s most underrated wide receivers, with six 1,000 yard seasons in his first eight years in the league. He is coming off an impressive 2021 campaign. He was maybe the only consistent offensive weapon on a pretty dismal Houston Texans offense yet still cleared 1,000 yards, mostly with rookie Davis Mills III at quarterback.
Furthermore, Cooks is familiar with McDaniels and his offensive system as he did spend one season with the Patriots in 2017. That season Cooks finished second on the Patriots to Rob Gronkowski with 65 catches for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns. He helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl that season but suffered a concussion during the game itself.
Those concussions have been an issue for Cooks throughout his career. He has suffered at least five throughout his eight seasons in the NFL and narrowly avoided another major one in 2020 during his first season with the Texans.
Cooks does have three years remaining on his contract, but the deal is a movable deal, and Houston could be looking to move him as it is a deal that would save them nearly $9 million against the salary cap. He is also an ideal fit with his big-play ability meshing perfectly with Renfrow’s outstanding work from the slot. Adams is the main target, but Cooks would be an excellent addition to the team.
