NFL Rumors: Brandin Cooks would give Patriots, Mac Jones dynamic option

No shade to Kendrick Bourne or Jakobi Meyers, but the New England Patriots desperately need to get Mac Jones a No. 1 receiver threat in 2022.  The ideal target via trade would be Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

As nice as Calvin Ridley or Michael Thomas would be, let’s be realistic here.

Unless either of those players force their way out of their current situations, the price will be high, and Bill Belichick and the Patriots have too many other areas to address so surrender perhaps a first-round pick for either of those players.

Speaking of draft picks, the Patriots could address the need for an explosive wide receiver with one of their top picks, but after the N’Keal Harry fiasco how much do fans and critics really trust Belichick in that situation.

There is also free agency where players like Devante Adams, Chris Godwin and Allen Robinson offer some intriguing possibilities but will also come at a cost.  Belichick could shock the NFL world once again by signing one of those players but bringing back a top target already familiar with the system could be both cheaper and ideal.  Bleacher Report agrees.

Bleacher reports identifies Brandin Cooks as the ideal target for the New England Patriots

In putting together a list of ideal trades for each NFL team, B/R writer Alex Ballentine spotlights a Cooks and Patriots reunion as a trade that could give Mac Jones that top outside target he needs.

Ballentine writes:

"“The New England Patriots need a No. 1 wide receiver if Mac Jones is to take the next step in his development, and the organization has seen firsthand the skills Brandin Cooks brings to the table.This offseason could be the perfect time for a reunion.Cooks played for the Patriots in 2017. He posted 1,082 yards on 65 catches and seven touchdowns before the Pats sent him to the Rams in a 2018 trade.”"

With former New England Patriots front office executive Nick Caserio running the ship in Houston, if the Texans are looking to move Cooks, who will be entering the final year of his contract, the first number he probably dials is that of his former boss, Bill Belichick.

What could the Patriots give up for Cooks?

Well, perhaps they can entice the Texans to take on the contract of Nelson Agholor by throwing in a third or fourth round pick along with a younger player who may be in need for a change of scenery like Chase Winovich or tight end Devin Asiasi.

Though a bigger outside target would be ideal, it’s hard to ignore what Cooks brings to the table.  With 90 catches for 1,027 yards and 6 touchdowns catching the ball from rookie quarterback Davis Mills, the veteran receiver has been consistent with his production despite playing with four NFL teams.

In an offense with Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, Brandin Cooks would have similar success in New England.  He already had that success back in 2017 as the third option in an offense anchored at the time by Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.

As this rumor has been floating around since before the 2021 NFL Trade Deadline, expect some more smoke this offseason.  Cooks could be exactly what the New England Patriots need and perhaps the cheaper option out there.