Brandin Cooks has drawn a host of offers, but the Saints are aiming high if they’re to part with the 23-year-old wide receiver. Most notably, the Patriots have entered the equation. The defending Super Bowl champions offered their first-round pick (No. 32 overall) as part of a package for Cooks, NOLA.com’s Josh Katzenstein reports. But the reporter adds the Saints are targeting a mid-first-round selection for Cooks if they are to deal him.
Several other teams have made overtures to the Saints for Cooks, offering second-round picks for the fourth-year receiver, but the team is holding out. The Titans and Eagles are among the interested teams. Katzenstein notes at least five teams have contacted the Saints about Cooks. One of the unnamed franchises is hoping to give the Saints some defensive help to acquire the elusive wideout.
New Orleans is not operating as if it has to deal the wideout, though. He’s signed through 2017 and will be available on his rookie contract through ’18, provided the Saints or the team to which he’s traded predictably picks up his fifth-year option. Katzenstein notes Cooks’ agents could come into play in this deal. Ryan and Bruce Tollner represent the wideout. They are also the agents for Carson Wentz and Marcus Mariota, helping to explain the two initial suitors becoming known this week.
Bill Belichick offered praise for the then-second-year wideout in 2015, expressing relief his team doesn’t have to face Cooks annually.
The Eagles have had their eye on Cooks dating back to the 2014 draft, and Philly attempted to trade for him before the 2016 trade deadline. The Eagles hold the No. 14 pick in the first round after winning a Friday coin flip vs. the Colts, while the second of the Titans’ two first-rounders is the No. 18 pick. Those would fall within the realm of a mid-first-round selection. The Titans and Saints have already exchanged proposals regarding a potential deal, one that would have to be “real significant” if New Orleans is to part with its current top receiver.
The Saints now have both Willie Snead and Michael Thomas as emerging playmakers, with Thomas breaking out down the stretch of his rookie slate. But Cooks has compiled two 1,100-yard seasons and has scored 17 touchdowns in those campaigns. And he’s under contract in 2017 for just $1.56MM. A 2018 fifth-year option would stand to be worth around $8.5MM.
Obviously not averse to trading skill-position threats, the Saints have shipped out Darren Sproles, Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills in the past three years.
So that would push Chris Hogan down the depth chart?
I thought he was the second coming of Jesus at WR? Lol.
Not the second coming, fits the system great. Edelman is in his early 30s, Amendola maybe taking pay cuts now but eventually will be cut. Cooks is 23 and would flourish under BB
Edelman is only 30.
You don’t trade a possible franchise QB for Cooks lol that’s the moves that turns you into the Browns….
another idiot heard from
He said possible. And he’s right. It’s possible. Not super likely. But you’re the idiot for dismissing the possibility entirely.
Connorsoxfan: the idiot part comes from the browns comment, not the possible franchise qb (what patriots backup qb has done that? none). i wasnt insulting your precious garoppolo, chump.
TheChrisMLB: moves that turns you into the browns? like getting a starting cb for a swap of 7th round picks? or getting a 4th round pick for a punter and then signing another punter that does just as well? or how about a pro bowl lb for a late 3rd round pick? those moves? like i said. idiot.
I heard he played lacrosse in college.
First and a fourth or fifth for cooks and a next years seventh?
It would push Amindola out would be my guess.
Noooooo
Forget Cooks. I want Brandon Marshall.
Forget Marshall. I want the 23 year old
Suck a Grogan Pats fan. This sun will soon set.
So bitter lmao I feel bad for you
those fantasy implications
Pats get: Brandin Cooks
Browns get: Jimmy G
Saints get: 12th overall pick
Who says no?
the titans
The Browns. Patriots get a player “possibly” worth the 12th overall pick (with a 3rd or 4th returned). Saints get the high pick they are looking for. Browns get a backup QB.
Try this one:
Pats get: Brandin Cooks
Browns get: Jimmy Garoppolo
Saints get: #32, #33
patriots do not take that
Works for me. They don’t get Cooks and they lose Garoppolo as a free agent.
Or they tag him, and work out something long term, and then he starts in 2019.
Again, whatever, works for me. Just not getting a 1st round pick for a backup QB who has played 2 games and gotten hurt. Some other team dumb enough to do that? More power to them.
ᴍy ᴜɴᴄʟᴇ ʜᴀyᴅᴇɴ ʀᴇᴄᴇɴᴛʟy ɢᴏᴛ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴅ ʜyᴜɴᴅᴀɪ ᴠᴇʀᴀᴄʀᴜᴢ ꜱᴜᴠ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴏɴʟy ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴ ᴩᴀʀᴛᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴀ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴩᴜᴛᴇʀ. ᴠɪꜱɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇʙꜱɪᴛᴇ
>>>>>>>>>>HOMEJOBSNEWS.TK
I think the Saints are overvaluing Cooks and rightly so – they want to get as much as possible. Plus the whole world knows he is available. The 32nd pick isn’t that valuable though. But if they want a 1st rounder, they will have to settle on a late 1st. A contender could add Cooks and it could put them over the top. A crappy team could add Cooks and they’re still crappy and now they gave up their pick for a WR and have no QB still.
The Titans are the team who could offer a first, have a QB, and still keep a first. One possible trade involved the Saints packaging Cooks with their pick and trading up to the Titans higher pick.
If the Saints have to rebuild get rid of naked Mickey Loomis that’s where it begins