Brandin Cooks has become a journeyman in the NFL. He was the 20th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. In New Orleans, he became one of Drew Brees’ top targets. Before the 2017 season, the Saints shocked the football world by trading him to the New England Patriots. While in Foxboro, he provided the New England offense with a number one receiver. Something they hadn’t seen since the Randy Moss days. After a year with the Pats, he was then traded to the Los Angeles Rams. It’s happened again. The Rams are now trading the wide receiver to the Houston Texans.
In order to be a number one receiver, you must be reliable. That’s the best word I could use to describe Brandin Cooks. Although he’s only 5’10, he plays as if he’s a possession receiver. Brandin can power himself to go up the field to make the big play or go over the middle to make the tough catch in traffic for the first down. He’s also a threat in the short passing game as he can make plays on screen passes. This is a receiver with game-breaking speed with the football in his hands after the catch. I’ve seen him run the jet sweep. As a defender, you just never know what he’s going to do on the field. He has a great first step at the line of scrimmage to release himself to get open.
The Houston Texans were the laughingstock of the NFL. They traded away their best offensive player. This is a good acquisition for them. They lost their number one receiver only to get another one. Will Fuller wasn’t the answer for them. He’s more of a second or third option. You can’t make him the guy you build your offense around. Brandin is once again on the move. He and Deshaun Watson should be fun to watch together.
