3 playmakers Broncos should go after with any new head coach

2. Brandin Cooks, possible trade option, Houston Texans

The Denver Broncos need to look into the possibility of adding a vertical threat for the offense that can stay on the field. I don’t think the team necessarily has to dump KJ Hamler with one year remaining on his rookie contract, but I also think that they need someone reliable to jump into the offense and provide that consistent option.

Over the course of his career in the NFL, Brandin Cooks has been nothing, if not consistent.

Our own Lou Scataglia has campaigned for the Broncos to try and acquire him on a number of occasions, and the timing may be right in 2023 with Cooks seemingly saying his goodbyes to the Texans late this past season.

Cooks would be a tremendous option and fit for Russell Wilson. He’s been a pretty automatic 1,000 yards every year he’s been in the NFL, accomplishing that feat six times already with four different teams.

He will be 30 this coming season and he comes at a hefty price tag of $18 million in base salary, but his salary can be moved around or restructured to fit more nicely under the salary cap so the team can make additional moves. The question will be — what do the Texans want in return for a guy like Cooks?

His value is not at an all-time high, so perhaps they’d be fine to settle for a draft pick dart in the middle rounds, or maybe there’s a player Nick Caserio has had his eyes on. We’ve seen him acquire a number of former Broncos in free agency in recent years.

It just so happens that Cooks was drafted by Sean Payton’s Saints in 2014 so that connection could come into play if, in fact, Payton is hired by the Broncos. And at this point, nobody knows if that’s going to happen.

Regardless, Cooks would be a much-needed veteran addition to that position group no matter who the coach is.