Brandin Cooks trade rumors: 5 Teams that should deal with Rams

4. Minnesota Vikings

After trading away Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills at the start of free agency, the Minnesota Vikings currently have a void at wide receiver. Adam Thielen is still a perennial top-tier talent that will remain atop the depth chart, but there isn’t much else of note in the Vikings locker room.

Olabisi Johnson received extended playing time last season, but only managed 31 catches for 294 yards. Chad Beebe was oft-injured in 2019 but he presents nothing more than an intriguing slot option.

If the Vikings want to find a replacement for Diggs, Cooks may be the perfect substitute. Last season, Diggs was Kirk Cousins’ primary deep threat; according to Player Profiler, Diggs ranked fifth in deep targets, ninth in completed air yards and ninth in average target distance among all wide receivers. Minnesota currently does not have anyone on the roster to fill that role.

Cooks, on the other hand, would immediately enter as the No. 2 option and give the Vikings a vertical presence they so desperately need. Cooks’ 4.33 speed and ability to stretch the field would work wonders in Gary Kubiak’s system, as the offensive coordinator’s scheme relies on a solid commitment to the run game and deep play-action passes.

The Vikings have the necessary draft capital to acquire Cooks, who will likely be traded for a deep discount compared to previous years, given he is under contract for four more years at $12.5 million AAV. Cooks would be a great locker room presence for Minnesota and immediately fill a hole at the wide receiver position.