Former Patriots WR Viewed As ‘Top Trade Target’ By NFL Analyst

The New England Patriots have plenty of time to solve their roster issues. Head coach Bill Belichick is coming off of a terrible season. Things didn’t go the way he planned and he has to boost the roster in the offseason. Belichick plans to improve the offense right now and a former Patriots WR seems to be the perfect trade target.

Joe Tansey from Bleacher Report bets on Brandin Cooks. Is he on his way back?

“Brandin Cooks’ name feels like it has been mentioned on the trade market since the second he joined the Houston Texans in 2020,” Tansey wrote. “The former Patriots wideout could be brought back to Foxborough to bolster the wide receiver room in a trade that brings draft picks back to Houston. The Texans are in no shape to contend in 2023, or maybe even in 2024, under new head coach DeMeco Ryans, so it would make sense to shed some salary in the offseason.

“Cooks is scheduled to make $31 million over the next two years. Houston can fill his No. 1 wide receiver role with Nico Collins, or draft picks in 2023 and 2024. The Texans have an abundance of draft selections to use from the Deshaun Watson trade with the Cleveland Browns. Houston’s situation may benefit the Patriots the most, as the asking price for Cooks may not be as large as one for Hopkins or Allen. The Texans should be willing to shed salary, and their large collection of picks makes them less likely to hold out for more selections in any trade negotiations.”

Patriots WR to join the team through a trade

Cooks spent the 2022 NFL season with the Houston Texans. He was brilliant in 2021, but his performance dropped last season. Houston needed more than his 57 receptions for 699 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Getting Cooks makes perfect sense for the Patriots. In his lone season with the Patriots, he did 65 receptions for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns. The Patriots need an experienced receiver who knows their system. Let’s see if this reunion happens in the next couple of months. New England fans sure want to see him put on a Patriots uniform.