Brandin Cooks remains in contact with Bills and wants to come back

[BillyJoeBills]

Brandin's slight build and 5 concussions adds to his lack of physicality and inability in contested catches; maybe his fear of contact contributes to his loss of focus and drop passes.   Probably his value is as a vertical stretch WR to open up the middle for our overloaded slot wrs and TEs.  I wrongly thought Deebo was a better alternative, but Brandin is a better fit in our offense. Not many wr choices in free agency left, can't depend on Keon or Palmer, so let's sign Brandin to a 1 year minimum and see what's left in his 33 yr beaten up, old body.

[Sierra Foothills]

I think because the article is behind a paywall, many people here haven't read it and are missing this:

 

"Tollner said plenty of contenders have extended offers, that an exciting choice will be made, but Cooks has emphasized his wish for one team in particular. Cooks is done rewinding that replay, but he wants to run it back with Buffalo.

Training camp, Cooks said, is “the purest form of football,” so he intends to be on a roster within the next few weeks.

“Obviously, Buffalo is the place I’d love to be,” Cooks said. “I want to prove that to them and have a full offseason with them. Both sides are figuring things out. We’ll see, but hopefully something transpires because I love going to training camp. That’s where you build that callus"

 

[NewEra]

9 hours ago, Thrivefourfive said:

I’m just coming from the perspective of how Cooks fits into where the team is currently at. I agree with you. On the next play, I’d rather it be Cooks over Palmer and Coleman. But it is fourth and fifth looks, so not high stakes. Cooks could be a primary target on a play, and Palmer and Coleman at this point should never be.
 

I just think if Palmer and Coleman have good seasons, the team will be better off. If Cooks has a good season, I feel that is spinning wheels.
 

Is there any way out of Palmer’s deal before week 1? I’m guessing not. Coleman is just cheap at this point. But both guys are under contract. Additional monies have to go to Cooks. That’s not nothing. That’s something. Cooks surviving the entire season isn’t something that’s a lock either. It could end up being money spent on another injured guy. I think it’s smarter to soend it in a younger injured guy ☺️

I just don’t see any question marks regarding Cooks.  He’s been a durable player during his long career despite his size.  He runs routes and gets open.   
 

Regarding the bolded.  Here’s where I suppose we differ.  I don’t care about spinning the wheels.  Winning the Super Bowl this season is the main goal here. I think there’s a better chance of Cooks having a good season and helping us win a SB than either Palmer or Keon.  Running it back with the same two guys that couldn’t do anything with their targets last year is a huge roll of the dice.  Give me the reliable player that has a history of being a good NFL WR.  

If spinning the wheels is the problem, i’s argue that we have Moore, Shakir, Bell, Kincaid, Knox, Hawes (and Keon).  Palmer, imo, will be cut even if he has a solid season this year.  I think Cooks has a better chance of being a Bill in 27 than Palmer does given palmers contract and injury history.  
 

jmo

[Einstein's Dog]

10 hours ago, NewEra said:

No, he’s a guy that you want to play over Skyler Bell to help us win games because there’s a good chance Bell isn’t as ready as people here hope

The plan should be that S Bell is the temporary backup to Palmer (if they can't get rid of Palmer via trade).  The hope is that by midsseason S Bell is playing/starting. 

 

Then the core offensive skill players are set for a couple of years:  DJ Moore/S Bell/Shakir/Kincaid/J Cook.  That could be an offensive juggernaut.   Note that this vision has no mention of B Cooks.

 

If Bell isn't ready when called on, then a move can be made - B Cooks or Deebo.  Bringing either of them in now would push S Bell down.

[Kirby Jackson]

This thread is weird IMO. Pretty much everyone in this thread, for the most part, agrees that he is better than some of the guys that will be on the roster. I have yet to see a post saying, “I’d rather have Josh Palmer.” Maybe I missed it. So while we all agree that he would be an upgrade to the WR room, we don’t all agree that he should be back.
 

To me, it is not complicated at all. Your 2 weakest starting spots are at LB and WR opposite Moore. None of us believe that Brandin Cooks is the long-term answer there. At least I think none of us believe that. What the majority of us see, is a WR room better than 2025 but still towards the bottom of the league. If we could add a top talent there now, of course we would all prefer that to Brandin Cooks. That’s not an option though. So when you look at the market, cap space, skillset, there aren’t many better options. He makes the Bills better for 2026. In 2027, hopefully they get an alpha at WR or at the very least an upgrade on the guys that they have.

 

Maybe Coleman or Bell emerges. That’s the best case scenario. Maybe Josh Palmer becomes the guy that they thought. That would be great (even though he still is probably gone after this year). If those things don’t happen, then what? Why anyone would want the Bills to be in a situation, for the 3rd straight year, where they are scrambling midseason to find competent WR play is befuddling to me. Cooks, Moore and Shakir represents a solid floor. That WR group isn’t keeping DCs up at night but it is a little scarier than the alternative. The window is open and the Bills should be making moves like this to ensure that floor stays higher. They should do the exact same thing at LB with Thompson or Milano. 

Edited July 10 by Kirby Jackson

[SectionC3]

Here's my bet.  They're waiting on Diggs.  I know it's absurd to suggest on its face, and I don't think Diggs is what they need.  I also don't think it's a good idea in the least to bring him back.  But I'm with you in that they basically nuked Palmer at the end of last year and would save a couple of bucks this year by cutting him and bringing Cooks in on a vet minimum deal (assuming Cooks would accept that).  

[Royale with Cheese]

12 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

And if you believe that Brandon Cooks name deserves to be on that list, well, there's not much to talk about. The bottom line is unquestionable: teams don't want Brandon Cooks, and that is why he is available this year and was available last year. If you're trying to improve the Buffalo Bills receiver, Cooks simply does not do much for you.

 

You asked what quality players are traded multiple times and I gave you quality players that were traded multiple times.

This doesn't mean I think Cooks is at the same HOF level as Eric Dickerson.  Stevie Johnson was a quality player.  When I say that, it doesn't mean I think he's Jerry Rice.  

It seems we have different definitions of quality.  I think quality is someone that adds value.  For a guy traded for a 1st, 1st and 2nd round pick in his career, those are high draft picks.

I don't think you really think this but your argument is sounding like quality to you is, a HOF talent.

[Einstein's Dog]

12 hours ago, Simon said:

 

We're trying to win a SB, not develop 4th rnd draft picks.

If Cooks is a better player, which he likely is right now, wgad if some Day 3 pick spends the year on the practice squad while they chase a championship.

Just because you have an obsession with some guy you liked in the draft doesn't mean the Bills are also so obsessed that they're going to put a lesser player on the field for future developmental purposes instead of putting a better player out their when their singular goal is to win NOW.

Where did you get that it is the FO's "singular goal is to win NOW"?  While they haven't stated it in a while, the thought process had been "many bites at the apple".

 

The Bills just got a 2nd round talent in the 4th round and the number of people that want to bury him on the depth chart is amazing to me.

 

To me, it looks like people want to put the lesser player on the field because he is a veteran.  We saw what the declining Cooks can do last year - help us lose 2 out of the 3 games he played a feature role in.  BillyJoeBills says above that Cooks has been concussed 5 times- very believable because Cooks plays that way.

 

Just because you have an obsession with a "Win now" mantra, doesn't mean the Bills should operate that way.

[I'm Spartacus]

A little off topic, but the obsessive comments about "chemistry" with Josh and recievers is getting old. These guys are pro athletes. How much practice for chemistry do they need? Josh sees receiver and throws ball.  Receiver should catch the damn ball. It's not rocket science.

[Don Otreply]

Cook’s career catch percentage according to an AI google search is 65.4 %,  about one percent better than Coleman…, 

 

I’m starting to think Brady aught to be using Bell in the role Cook would fill…, 

Edited July 10 by Don Otreply

[NewEra]

50 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

The plan should be that S Bell is the temporary backup to Palmer (if they can't get rid of Palmer via trade).  The hope is that by midsseason S Bell is playing/starting. 

 

Then the core offensive skill players are set for a couple of years:  DJ Moore/S Bell/Shakir/Kincaid/J Cook.  That could be an offensive juggernaut.   Note that this vision has no mention of B Cooks.

 

If Bell isn't ready when called on, then a move can be made - B Cooks or Deebo.  Bringing either of them in now would push S Bell down.

In a year where we are trying to win the Super Bowl, I don’t think any plan that involves Bell as our WR2 come playoffs is a smart one.  We continue to roll the dice on hopes at the WR position and continue to come up snake eyes.  
 

Cooks isn’t breaking the bank.  He’s cheap and reliable. Bell is a complete unknown.  Just because we like his college highlight tape, doesn’t mean he’s going to be someone we can count on. 
 

if you don’t like cooks, fine.  I can accept that.  I can’t accept rolling the dice on Bell to be the guy his rookie season

[MasterStrategist]

13 hours ago, Simon said:

 

We're trying to win a SB, not develop 4th rnd draft picks.

If Cooks is a better player, which he likely is right now, wgad if some Day 3 pick spends the year on the practice squad while they chase a championship.

Just because you have an obsession with some guy you liked in the draft doesn't mean the Bills are also so obsessed that they're going to put a lesser player on the field for future developmental purposes instead of putting a better player out their when their singular goal is to win NOW.

Counter-argument...

 

Brady is still all-in on Keon, Palmer's contract would cost us to "cut" him (and likely nobody trading for him) --- so who are we moving off the roster to fit Cooks on the 53?  I highly doubt we keep 6 WRs.

 

Signing Cooks back just screams mediocrity and is the typical move that McDermott would make on defense year after year (Jordan Phillips, AJ Klein, etc etc).  Cooks isn't moving the needle for us, that's why Beane traded for DJ Moore.  Beane also made his bed with the Palmer signing - just about getting his ankle healed up right now and keeping him healthy as our WR3.  

 

Then you add in that we grabbed a fast WR in Skyler Bell in the 4th, who can also be a downfield threat for us.  

 

Why waste cap room on Cooks, so we incrementally raise the floor of our WR room?  

 

"Win NOW" is going to rely on: DJ Moore, Dalton Kincaid, and Shakir as our top 3 "targets" --- with Palmer/Keon/Bell playing supporting roles, and maybe one of them shines more than expected.  I just don't see room for Cooks UNLESS he accepts a below-market offer/lower gtd $ to sign with us, and might even be a P/S type role.

4 minutes ago, NewEra said:

In a year where we are trying to win the Super Bowl, I don’t think any plan that involves Bell as our WR2 come playoffs is a smart one.  We continue to roll the dice on hopes at the WR position and continue to come up snake eyes.  
 

Cooks isn’t breaking the bank.  He’s cheap and reliable. Bell is a complete unknown.  Just because we like his college highlight tape, doesn’t mean he’s going to be someone we can count on. 
 

if you don’t like cooks, fine.  I can accept that.  I can’t accept rolling the dice on Bell to be the guy his rookie season

I don't know why people are so infatuated with our "WR2" ----

 

Target share will be some combo of: Moore, Kincaid, and Shakir eating up 80%+, which leaves Palmer/Keon/Bell in supporting roles.  

 

Like it or not, fans need to realize that Beane/Brady have built this offense like a "Packers" WR room.  They want multiple guys, not just a Chase/Higgins type offense, contributing and week-to-week they are match up dependent on who is "eating".

 

Our main problem has been missing a "top guy", now we have that in Moore --- everything else will fall in-place around him, and relies on Kincaid & Shakir staying healthy.

[Mr. WEO]

13 hours ago, Simon said:

 

He did? I must have missed that.

I saw him say that Allen trusts him and then use targets/game to support that statement.

 

And you continue to follow up by cherry picking some random numbers that having nothing to do with his statement in order to support some preconceived notion because arguing about unrelated nothings is some sort of personal addiction for you. 🤷‍♂️

 

I cited actual stats (all of them) for all of the games that Cooks played for the Bills.  So I "cherry picked" the whole orchard, I guess. And they were explicitly used to refute the idea that he is a deep threat or  more "trusted".  

 

13 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Don’t do this.

 

Of course Josh throws to the guy that’s open. Of course the guy running WR screens is open. 
 

I looked specifically at the last 3 games. Josh threw him the ball 17 (6,5,6) times in those last 3. That’s when he was acclimated and they were important games.
 

I’m not suggesting that he is going to be Justin Jefferson. It’s perfectly reasonable to think he could do something like 50/650/5 on 70 targets. On this team, with a 15 yard depth of target, and a cheap 1 year deal, that’s a good option.

Instead of doing that Weo thing where you make something up and start to argue, please provide the comments that are “demonstrably false.” Provide the exact quotes on efficiency specifically. You won’t find them because no one said that. You’re arguing over nothing (as per usual).

 

 

I agree you can't compare Shakir to Cooks in efficiency--mainly because Cooks has no efficiency as a "deep threat" WR, and fewer than half of his few catches resulted in 1st downs--so yes, no comparison.

 

And I don't know how you can intuit "trust" in a guy who caught 45% of Josh's looks his way in the regular season and 53% of the targets in the 3 games cited (AFTER acclimation)--for zero TDs and 4 1st downs.  Your 17 extrapolation on a 3 day sample comment is a real stretch--this guy hasn't had over 95 targets in the past 6 years.  650 yards on 70 targets over a full season puts him at a yards/target ratio he hasn't achieved since 2020 and a catch % (71.4) he hasn't reached since his rookie year in 2014. Catching about half his targets over 3 games is how he gains Allen's trust?  If I'm Josh, after that stretch, I'm concluding my trust was misplaced.  

 

Bottom line, this guy's impact is being significantly overblown.  11 looks in 2 playoff games, 5 catches for 78 yards.  Kincaid also had 11 targets , caught 9 of them (including 6/6 in the Denver game) for 105 yards and 2 TDs total.  Based on these  limited game stats used, Josh  trusts Cooks more than Kincaid?  

 

 

 

 

[dollars 2 donuts]

18 hours ago, 3rdand12 said:

I don't feel you can evaluate Cooks without taking notice of how he finished the season

He and Josh found something that worked

Agreed Kirby , it's no small thing Josh is a Trust Guy for sure !

 

 

DJ Moore out on one side.  Brandin Cooks on the other.

 

Kincaid near the line of scrimmage.

 

Hawes in the backfield at FB, in front of James.

 

Allen under center.

 

Where the hell is it going?

 

Long?  Mid long?  Middle?  dump?  HB screen?  Run outside?  Run up the middle?  All this and then Josh possibly takes off?!

 

A running play setup and look that has 5 potential receivers on the field?

 

My goodness you can almost see the pee running down the defensive coordinator's leg.

 

...eww...and...oh baby!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 10 by dollars 2 donuts

[ganesh]

On 7/9/2026 at 6:45 PM, Kirby Jackson said:

This still feels like a no brainer to me. Cooks today, is a better player than Palmer and Coleman. He certainly has a way higher floor than both. If one of them passes him, great. If they are the same guys that they have been, Cooks will be the guy opposite Moore.
 

If that’s the case, Josh Palmer starts playing special teams again to secure a jersey on game day. Better yet, trade him for anything to open the cap space. Even if you need to add a late pick to entice someone. Then you can have Sherfield or whomever play ST.

if they can trade Palmer and his salary cap, then we could probably sign him

Just now, dollars 2 donuts said:

 

 

DJ Moore out on one side.  Brandin Cooks on the other.

 

Kincaid near the line of scrimmage.

 

Hawes in the backfield at FB, in front of James.

 

Allen under center.

 

Where the hell is it going?

 

Long?  Mid long?  Middle?  dump?  HB screen?  Run outside?  Run up the middle?  All this and then Josh possibly takes off?!

 

A running play setup and look that has 5 potential receivers on the field?

 

My goodness you can almost see the pee running down the defensive coordinator's leg.

 

...eww...and...oh baby!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add n Shakir in the slot

[SoonerBillsFan]

Just wanted to note:  Cook did well under Carmichael in NO

[Einstein's Dog]

37 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

This has thread is weird IMO. Pretty much everyone in this thread, for the most part, agrees that he is better than some of the guys that will be on the roster. I have yet to see a post saying, “I’d rather have Josh Palmer.” Maybe I missed it. So while we all agree that he would be an upgrade to the WR room, we don’t all agree that he should be back.
 

To me, it is not complicated at all. Your 2 weakest starting spots are at LB and WR opposite Moore. None of us believe that Brandin Cooks is the long-term answer there. At least I think none of us believe that. What the majority of us see, is a WR room better than 2025 but still towards the bottom of the league. If we could add a top talent there now, of course we would all prefer that to Brandin Cooks. That’s not an option though. So when you look at the market, cap space, skillset, there aren’t many better options. He makes the Bills better for 2026. In 2027, hopefully they get an alpha at WR or at the very least an upgrade on the guys that they have.

 

Maybe Coleman or Bell emerges. That’s the best case scenario. Maybe Josh Palmer becomes the guy that they thought. That would be great (even though he still is probably gone after this year). If those things don’t happen, then what? Why anyone would want the Bills to be in a situation, for the 3rd straight year, where they are scrambling midseason to find competent WR play is befuddling to me. Cooks, Moore and Shakir represents a solid floor. That WR group isn’t keeping DCs up at night but it is a little scarier than the alternative. The window is open and the Bills should be making moves like this to ensure that floor stays higher. They should do the exact same thing at LB with Thompson or Milano. 

If you can't add a good FA WR they should resist the urge to add a poor one (Cooks).

 

The question should be " Who do you want replacing Josh Palmer?"  And the obvious answer to that in regards to the Bills creating a near term offensive juggernaut is S Bell.

12 minutes ago, NewEra said:

In a year where we are trying to win the Super Bowl, I don’t think any plan that involves Bell as our WR2 come playoffs is a smart one.  We continue to roll the dice on hopes at the WR position and continue to come up snake eyes.  
 

Cooks isn’t breaking the bank.  He’s cheap and reliable. Bell is a complete unknown.  Just because we like his college highlight tape, doesn’t mean he’s going to be someone we can count on. 
 

if you don’t like cooks, fine.  I can accept that.  I can’t accept rolling the dice on Bell to be the guy his rookie season

I don't like Cooks getting PT.  I don't consider Cooks reliable.

 

First crack goes to Palmer in almost any scenario.  In the near future, if things go as planned, Bell would be Palmer's backup.  By next year the position is S Bells.  Yes, they have tried this before and failed (g Davis, K Coleman).  But I think they have it right this time.

 

If you don't want Bell and you don't like Cooks, who else do you have?  Deebo - maybe.  Diggs would work if it wasn't for the history.

[dollars 2 donuts]

Just now, ganesh said:

if they can trade Palmer and his salary cap, then we could probably sign him

Add n Shakir in the slot

 

 

Ganesh that would be 12, but you KNOW that is where I was headed next!

 

If we had one guy that could go deep, then fine.  but two?? Then throw in sure hands Shakir?!

 

You are going to potentially see a trips setup, with Kincaid on the other side and then James Cook in the backfield!

 

Brother, it is crazy what this offense might be stirring up this season.  

[SectionC3]

39 minutes ago, MasterStrategist said:

Counter-argument...

 

Brady is still all-in on Keon, Palmer's contract would cost us to "cut" him (and likely nobody trading for him) --- so who are we moving off the roster to fit Cooks on the 53?  I highly doubt we keep 6 WRs.

 

Signing Cooks back just screams mediocrity and is the typical move that McDermott would make on defense year after year (Jordan Phillips, AJ Klein, etc etc).  Cooks isn't moving the needle for us, that's why Beane traded for DJ Moore.  Beane also made his bed with the Palmer signing - just about getting his ankle healed up right now and keeping him healthy as our WR3.  

 

Then you add in that we grabbed a fast WR in Skyler Bell in the 4th, who can also be a downfield threat for us.  

 

Why waste cap room on Cooks, so we incrementally raise the floor of our WR room?  

 

"Win NOW" is going to rely on: DJ Moore, Dalton Kincaid, and Shakir as our top 3 "targets" --- with Palmer/Keon/Bell playing supporting roles, and maybe one of them shines more than expected.  I just don't see room for Cooks UNLESS he accepts a below-market offer/lower gtd $ to sign with us, and might even be a P/S type role.

I don't know why people are so infatuated with our "WR2" ----

 

Target share will be some combo of: Moore, Kincaid, and Shakir eating up 80%+, which leaves Palmer/Keon/Bell in supporting roles.  

 

Like it or not, fans need to realize that Beane/Brady have built this offense like a "Packers" WR room.  They want multiple guys, not just a Chase/Higgins type offense, contributing and week-to-week they are match up dependent on who is "eating".

 

Our main problem has been missing a "top guy", now we have that in Moore --- everything else will fall in-place around him, and relies on Kincaid & Shakir staying healthy.

Palmer screams mediocrity.  Swapping him out for Cooks on a Cooks vet min deal actually saves us a couple of bucks this year.  I'm all for it. 

 

[Kirby Jackson]

39 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

I cited actual stats (all of them) for all of the games that Cooks played for the Bills.  So I "cherry picked" the whole orchard, I guess. And they were explicitly used to refute the idea that he is a deep threat or  more "trusted".  

 

 

 

I agree you can't compare Shakir to Cooks in efficiency--mainly because Cooks has no efficiency as a "deep threat" WR, and fewer than half of his few catches resulted in 1st downs--so yes, no comparison.

 

And I don't know how you can intuit "trust" in a guy who caught 45% of Josh's looks his way in the regular season and 53% of the targets in the 3 games cited (AFTER acclimation)--for zero TDs and 4 1st downs.  Your 17 extrapolation on a 3 day sample comment is a real stretch--this guy hasn't had over 95 targets in the past 6 years.  650 yards on 70 targets over a full season puts him at a yards/target ratio he hasn't achieved since 2020 and a catch % (71.4) he hasn't reached since his rookie year in 2014. Catching about half his targets over 3 games is how he gains Allen's trust?  If I'm Josh, after that stretch, I'm concluding my trust was misplaced.  

 

Bottom line, this guy's impact is being significantly overblown.  11 looks in 2 playoff games, 5 catches for 78 yards.  Kincaid also had 11 targets , caught 9 of them (including 6/6 in the Denver game) for 105 yards and 2 TDs total.  Based on these  limited game stats used, Josh  trusts Cooks more than Kincaid?  

 

 

 

 

Lol, if you read, I TWICE said that I expected Cooks targets to come in behind Moore, Shakir AND KINCAID. Clearly I think Josh trusts him more.

 

Josh threw, the last ball of the season, 44 yards down the field, to Brandon Cooks, in overtime of a playoff game. That’s showing trust. Throwing him the ball 11 times in 2 playoff games is showing trust. Throwing him the ball 6 times in a close regular season game, against the only NFL team Josh hasn’t beaten is trust. I’m not saying that he trusts him like Burrow trusts Chase. I’m suggesting that Josh trusts Cooks more than Coleman and Palmer. 
 

The point that you’re missing is that it is less about Cooks than it is about Palmer/Coleman/Bell/Sherfield/Shavers. There are LOTS of questions in the WR room. The Bills currently have the second lowest Super Bowl odds at +1000. Let me ask you a question. Do you believe Cooks floor is higher than those guys? It’s a yes or no question. If the answer is yes, why in the world would you not want a guy that, today, is the 3rd best option at WR? He’s going to be near a vet minimum deal. Help me understand. After 2 straight years of scrambling midseason to find a WR that can play, why is it a bad idea to have a solid vet that has been in your system? Are the Bills worse or better with Brandin Cooks than they are right now?