Tight end Chris Cooley was released on Tuesday by the Washington Redskins after eight seasons with the team. Fred Davis is a quality starter and the Redskins reportedly love Niles Paul, so it made sense to release Cooley considering his salary.
Cooley hardly is a burner after repeated knee injuries, but Peter King of SI.com is one of many writers who noted Cooley looked to be in great shape during training camp. He's healthy and is a quality receiver. He should not struggle to find work. Some possibilities:
Oakland Raiders: There have been no winners in their tight end battle. Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp runs a similar offense to Redskins coach Mike Shanahan. This makes a lot of sense. He could start.
Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals aren't afraid to give guys second chances. Jeff King and Todd Heap are atop their depth chart. Cooley is a better version of the same idea.
Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins could use any offensive player with a pair of quality hands. Cooley might not want to play for one of the only franchises consistently run worse than the Redskins. Sorry.
New England Patriots: It doesn't really make sense, but he's a tight end! The Patriots love those guys.
Chicago Bears: The Bears swear they like Kellen Davis, but they could do better. As the Patriots have shown, there's nothing wrong with having two tight ends.
Redskins: "Today, for the time being, will be my last day as a Redskin," Cooley said Tuesday. It's possible Cooley could return to Washington at a reduced price if he doesn't find a starting job. Based on the options above, we think he can do better.
