2:26pm: Three and a half years of Cooks’ four-year deal is fully guaranteed, reports Adam Caplan of ESPN (on Twitter).
2:00pm: The Saints have signed their first-round pick, receiver Brandin Cooks, according to a press release. The deal is for four years, with a club option for a fifth season.
Cooks, out of Oregon State, was selected with the 20th overall pick after New Orleans traded up to acquire him. At 5’10”, 185 pounds, he can play either outside or in the slot, and is expected to utilize his exceptional speed (4.33 40-yard-dash) to help replace the departed Darren Sproles. While the two place different positions, their impact on the Saints offense could be similar.
Cooks should receive a signing bonus of approximately $4.417MM, and a contract with a total value of about $8.383MM, according to figures from OverTheCap. The Saints now have just one member (fourth-round linebacker Khairi Fortt) of their modest six-man draft class left to sign.