4 potential trade targets for the Ravens in the 2022 offseason
By Justin Fried
3. Ravens trade target: Brandin Cooks, WR, Houston Texans
The Ravens did an excellent job reshaping their wide receiver room in the offseason bringing in veteran Sammy Watkins and rookie Rashod Bateman to pair with the likes of Marquise Brown and Devin Duvernay.
The results have been mixed at times, but overall, the wide receiver position is far from the greatest need on the roster — which is more than can be said for previous seasons.
Still, that doesn’t mean they won’t be looking to make an addition in the offseason. Watkins is set to be a free agent again and there’s no guarantee the Ravens opt to bring him back.
Especially when they might have the opportunity to add a better version of Watkins via trade.
The Houston Texans are in the process of cleaning house and productive veterans like Brandin Cooks remain misfits on an otherwise dismal roster.
Cooks has topped 1,000 receiving yards in five of the last six seasons and is well on pace for another 1,000-yard campaign in 2021. The Ravens could certainly use a player of his caliber on their roster.
The 28-year-old is still going strong and could provide the Ravens with another deep threat to pair with Marquise Brown. Again, he would be a better — albeit more expensive — Sammy Watkins.
Cooks is set to have a hefty cap hit of over $16 million in 2022 which could hinder the chances of any trade getting done unless the Ravens could convince Houston to retain a good chunk of his salary.
Nonetheless, if the Ravens are in the market for a wide receiver this offseason, Brandin Cooks remains one of their better options.