The Denver Broncos have made the decision not to pursue veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who was recently released by the New Orleans Saints. This unexpected move comes as head coach Sean Payton opted not to reunite with Cooks, a player he drafted 20th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Cooks, who cleared waivers on Monday after being cut, has amassed impressive career statistics, including 727 receptions for 9,680 yards and 60 touchdowns over 168 games with various teams, including the Saints, Patriots, Rams, Texans, and Cowboys. He recorded 19 receptions for 165 yards in the current season before his release.
Speculation had surrounded Cooks potentially joining the Broncos leading up to last month”s trade deadline, especially as his former teammate Rashid Shaheed was also mentioned in rumors before being traded to Seattle. However, the 9-2 Broncos, who are enjoying an eight-game winning streak, have decided to maintain their current wide receiver depth chart, which includes Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, Marvin Mims, Pat Bryant, and Lil”Jordan Humphrey.
Payton”s focus has been on developing second-year receiver Troy Franklin, a college teammate of quarterback Bo Nix. Franklin has responded well, leading the Broncos in targets and receiving touchdowns while ranking second in receiving yards behind Sutton. Payton praised Franklin”s explosiveness and competitiveness, emphasizing the chemistry he shares with Nix.
The Broncos wide receiver group is preparing for a favorable matchup in Week 13, as they will face a Washington Commanders defense that allows the 29th most passing yards per game. As the team continues to build on their recent success, fans will be eager to see how the current roster performs in the upcoming game.
