Brandin Cooks drops subtle hints about joining the Chargers. Analyzing his words reveals a veteran receiver's potential interest in a diminished, but significant, role.
I recently wrote about Keenan Allen as if there is no place for him in the 2026 Los Angeles Chargers passing attack, so I understand that this might sound a little out there, but...
I think free agent Brandin Cooks wants to play for the Chargers. I am referring to this clip, which I will quote below if you don't feel like watching:
Let's read through what was said there and see what we can pick up from it.
Well, you got a Ferrari and you got a Tonka truck in Harbaugh. I look forward to it because Justin Herbert can make any throw on the field. That Mike McDaniel offense, as we all know, my favorite tree is that Shanahan offense. Shanahan, McVay, O'Connell, that's the best tree in football when it comes to offensive playcalling, so I look forward to Mike going out to the Chargers and making some of those calls.
Maybe, after 12 years in the NFL, Brandin Cooks is just angling for a job in media and wanted to say something that would get shared on social media and written about on blogs like this one.
Maybe calling Jim Harbaugh a Tonka truck is not actually the best way to get the man's attention, although I would not be surprised if he actually liked the metaphor.
Maybe Brandin Cooks is saying "My favorite tree is that Shanahan offense" because it actually is his favorite tree.
However, if I were a veteran WR trying to signal to the Los Angeles Chargers that I am interested in playing for them next season, this is almost exactly how I would do it.
If the Chargers were to sign Cooks, it would certainly be in a diminished role. Despite catching 8 touchdown passes for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, Cooks has not had a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2021.
Los Angeles is likely searching for a WR1 that can create separation and stretch defenses. That is definitely not Brandin Cooks. At 32-years old, and with his speed diminished from its previous heights, Cooks would best be served as the third or fourth WR on the Chargers roster.
In theory, this puts him in direct competition with Chargers franchise legend Keenan Allen for such a role. There's almost no possibility that the team would sign both veteran WRs for the same job. And considering the strong connection between Justin Herbert and Allen, it would be hard to argue that Cooks should be considered anything more than a backup plan in case Allen signs elsewhere and the team feels that it needs a veteran to backup and mentor Ladd McConkey and Tre Harris.
I think the WR position group is the one ripe for the most change between now and the start of the regular season, especially with the Chargers still reportedly shopping Quentin Johnston in a trade, so maybe there will eventually be an opportunity for Cooks to get his wish and play in this offense. At the very least, it is fun to see veteran players talk about how much they want to come play for the Chargers with Mike McDaniel calling the plays.