The Kansas City Chiefs clearly need to make an effort to improve their depth at the receiver position with Hollywood Brown, Tyquan Thornton, and JuJu Smith-Schuster all slated to hit free agency. Adding to this is the fact that Travis Kelce was the team's leading receiver in 2025, and Patrick Mahomes is coming off an ACL tear. This doesn't just demand a splashy addition at the position, but consistent depth that can be relied on in the game's biggest moments. Bringing us to a bargain free agent that would be the perfect offseason target in Brandin Cooks.
Cooks is coming off an underwhelming season and, according to Spotrac, is expected only to make $2.9 million in free agency. This is a huge bargain when you consider the experience of the receiver and his potential impact in a system as established as Kansas City. Even last season, Cooks came on strong at the end of the year, offering 101 receiving yards in the season finale.
What makes the signing even more fun is the fact that Cooks spent the end of last season with the Buffalo Bills, offering KC a chance to steal from a rival. Taking what was a key piece for the Bills' playoff run in the offseason should only further demoralize a Buffalo team that fumbled the perfect opportunity to make a Super Bowl run with the Chiefs out of the way. Taking Cooks as a bargain in free agency only should further the Bills' frustration while answering a clear KC need.
Chiefs Have a Chance to Steal Offseason Bargain Signing Brandin Cooks in Free Agency
Cooks had a productive season as recently in 2023 when the pass catcher finished with 657 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Two years before this, in 2021, Cooks put up his sixth season, surpassing 1,000 receiving yards. There is reason to believe that this talent is still present and could be utilized in Kansas City if injuries were to strike.
Signing Cooks is an incredible bargain that offers a viable starting option or great depth. Either scenario works in Kansas City's favor or gives the franchise much-needed depth at the position. Rashee Rice is facing an uncertain future off the field, and Xavier Worthy hasn't lived up to expectations. With this in mind, the Chiefs need to find depth capable of stepping in and filling a larger role. Cooks fits this perfectly and does so at what should be a bargain.
For the Chiefs, the signing simply makes far too much sense not to explore in the next weeks of the offseason, as fans should expect impact additions at the position throughout free agency and the draft. Taking pressure off Mahomes has never been more important, and signing Cooks is a step in that direction.