Sean Payton and the Broncos have a chance to right a wrong with latest NFL development that is sure to make Bo Nix happy
The team might not be done adding talent to the roster after all.
The Denver Broncos are tied for the best record in football after a thrilling win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Not many people would have suspected that the Broncos would start off the season in the fashion that they have, sitting atop the AFC West and looking at the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
With a stellar record and more than a few signature wins under their belt, the Broncos could bolster the offense and give quarterback Bo Nix yet another weapon at his disposal. All it would take is a reunion between head coach Sean Payton and a former player, Brandin Cooks.
One of the biggest “misses,” if you ask a chunk of fans, is that the team didn’t do anything at the trade deadline to bolster the offense. There were rumblings of a potential deal, but nothing came to fruition. The team could write some wrongs and pick up Cooks for relatively cheap, giving Nix and the offense a boost heading into a crucial stretch of games for Denver.
Cooks is a veteran wide receiver who had just mutually parted ways with the New Orleans Saints. The 32-year-old veteran has appeared in 10 games for the Saints this season, totaling 19 receptions for 165 yards.
A familiar face could reunite with Sean Payton
Cooks has bounced around the league throughout his 12-year career, spending time with the New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, and then returning to the Saints.
He’s amassed 729 receptions for 9,697 yards and 60 touchdowns over the course of his career, appearing in 168 games over that time.
Payton previously coached Cooks during his tenure with the Saints. During Cooks’ time with Payton, he had some of his best career numbers. From 2015-2016, Cooks appeared in 42 games with 215 receptions for 2,861 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Adam Holt, A to Z Sports New Orleans writer, broke down Cooks’ role with the Saints this season and what could’ve drawn the team to agree to mutually part ways.
“Cooks’ role so far this season wasn’t a large one, shocking given his release — I know. But legitimately, Cooks’ main value for Kellen Moore’s offense came on third down this year. Spencer Rattler trusted him to find space past the sticks and complete the catch. He was not targeted this past game with Tyler Shough at quarterback.
“The vertical aspect of Cooks’ game has definitely seen a decline, and that may surprise some people given his skill set and strengths earlier in his career. He just doesn’t have that same speed he once did, and that happens for wideouts as they age. That being said, Cooks has turned into a possession receiver who can provide veteran depth for some team looking to make a deep playoff run. With his ties to Sean Payton and some depth questions surrounding the proven commodities at WR for Denver, I do think he may be on their radar.” — Adam Holt.
For Cooks, since the trade deadline has passed, he will need to clear waivers. The team could send a claim just to absorb his old deal with the Saints, but more likely, they would just wait for him to clear waivers and sign a new contract, or even be added to the practice squad. Since the Broncos have the best record in the NFL, they have the last priority.
As Denver continues its improbable run, all eyes will be on what the team does to strengthen the roster. A reunion with Cooks wouldn’t be a splashy move, but it would be a smart one, giving Nix a veteran who knows Payton’s playbook and thrives in pressure moments. Time will tell if the Broncos decide to pull the trigger.
Kansas City Chiefs News
Broncos HC Sean Payton wasn’t afraid to admit how insanely hard it is to prep for Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes
Sean Payton and the Broncos showed why their defense is elite against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
