The Denver Broncos are sitting at 9-2 and in first place in the AFC, a perfect time for the team to have its bye week come around. But there will be things to work on during the bye week and the organization should consider upgrading the roster any way it can.
On Wednesday, the New Orleans Saints and veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks mutually agreed to part ways, opening up the chance for Cooks to sign with another team. The Broncos should be the team at the top of his list.
The Broncos have several things that Brandin Cooks should be looking for. Leaving New Orleans, it's likely he wants to play for a contender. What better contender than the one that has the coach who drafted you into the league?
Sean Payton, then head coach of the Saints, used a first-round pick on Cooks in the 2014 draft. He was in his second stint in New Orleans and has also played for the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys during his career.
While signing Cooks would not be the huge splash move it once would have been, the Broncos have a need for another dependable target in the passing game, one who can help take some pressure off Courtland Sutton. Though Cooks has likely lost a step at this stage of his career, he is still a savvy player who can catch the deep ball.
Cooks, 32, has 727 career receptions for 9,681 yards and 60 touchdowns. There is a team currently in playoff contention that is going to bring him in.
The Broncos have Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims Jr., Pat Bryant and Lil'Jordan Humphrey, but that group contains a lot of youth and inexperience. Adding Cooks would make a ton of sense at this stage of the season and the move would give Bo Nix a player with 168 games under his belt to throw the ball to.
READ: Where do Broncos land in current power rankings following huge win over Chiefs?
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