Pats interested in Saints WR Brandin Cooks

[Schmo]

He's 23. We'd hardly be paying for past productions.

So he'll cost the same as a player with no stats in the NFL?

 

[patsinthesnow]

Vikings Expected To Apply Second-Round Tender To Adam Thielen profootballrumors.com/2017/03/viking…

One of my favorite breakout players from last season. He tore it up in the second half when he became a full-time starter.



Could pull the good ole Welker trade on him. Cheaper in draft capital and likely cheaper to resign on a longterm deal.

 

[Marqui]

I'd rather have Cooks.

 

[bbobbo]

Cooks is an explosive player and he would tear it up in this offense, but I can't see them making the deal without an extension in place. And as much as I like him as a player demanding the ball is a real issue, as Brady doesn't tolerate it, and he was behind the Patriots getting rid of Moss, who he loved playing with, once his insistence on throwing it to him got to be too much.

i never heard that one. what exactly did brady say about it?
.

 

[pherein]

Seems like a good fit in NE but that seems like a pretty high price. Could be BB doing his bud Payton a solid by allowing this to be "leaked" to help NO make other teams pay up.

Yeah Ive thought maybe BB was just doing SP a solid. That would make sense.
I do also see that Cooks would be a very good pickup. Not all 1st round picks work out and Cooks is a no brainer with the ability to do kickoff returns.

Some asked his cap. ITs
Brandin Cooks. Age 23, signed through 2017 (Saints control option for 2018). 2017 salary and bonuses: $1.56 million. 2017 salary-cap number: $2.67 million.

I would think that Brandon Coleman would be more of BB's style to develop.
Its all here. Patsfan posted some also.
Saints have ultimate combo at WR: Young, cheap and really good

SP might be bad at creating a defense but he has a proven record on offense especially fielding a consitanty solid WR core, without superstars.

 

[luuked]

Essentially, we'd be trading for 2 years of a moderately priced Cooks (1.5m + ~8.5m option; ~5m average which fits right into our roster structure).

In a way most contracts that you shell out big for in FA are 2 year contracts anyway the way they are structured so he'd be a lot cheaper in those two years than a comparable player via free agency. Similarly, BB had a good look at him in the combined practices with the Saints and he has actually proven production in this league so they kinda know what they are looking at. Everyone in the draft is still just a projection that could bust severely.

I guess it depends on what pick we get back in a swap (3rd ? 4th ?). If the Jimmy trade happens and brings in a windfall it would be easier to stomach this move. Given the right context (Jimmy, 3/4 coming back) I wouldn't have a problem with this move.

 

[Wheelman]

Well damn, if only we were able to trade Collins for Cooks or Hopkins last season. That would have been epic!

 

[pherein]

A ton of talent and production obviously. But he's gotten 100+ targets the past two years yet complained about his lack of touches. That really worries me more than any money issues.

Worries me to but would not be the 1st time NE picked up a guy who wanted the ball more or had some issues, and though it is mentioned that he tweets a few things about it. I dont think its the degree of like Moss. I can see BB putting him in line.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Why? I get his talent, but I don't want to give up that first.

He's basically Wes Welker, if Welker ran a 4.2 40 and was bizarrely good at coming down with jump balls. He'd be one of the most productive WRs in the league, easily, in NE. That's not to say I'd want to trade a first rounder for him--not that I wouldn't, either, I haven't thought much about it--but I definitely get the appeal.

 

[Marqui]

He's basically Wes Welker, if Welker ran a 4.2 40 and was bizarrely good at coming down with jump balls. He'd be one of the most productive WRs in the league, easily, in NE. That's not to say I'd want to trade a first rounder for him--not that I wouldn't, either, I haven't thought much about it--but I definitely get the appeal.

Cooks doesn't run a 4.2 40.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Cooks doesn't run a 4.2 40.

Typo- he ran a 4.3 at the combine.

 

[Marqui]

I forgot how bad Cooks torched the Pats in practice.

Cooks caught several passes while being covered by Butler in individual drills and team drills. Cooks burned Butler on a go route for a touchdown pass. Cooks also caught a back-shoulder touchdown pass on a timing pattern, beating Butler.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick offered high praise after the speedy wideout burned his defense for big plays of 45 and 36 yards in addition to a pair of 18-yard receptions on Saturday.

"I'm glad we don't have to play him twice a year and he's not in our division," Belichick said, via The Times-Picayune. "He's a really good player."

Cooks spent the majority of the offseason working on routes and timing with Drew Brees in San Diego. When he wasn't with Brees, he adopted Steelers superstar Antonio Brown as a mentor and sought advice from Ravens veteran Steve Smith on route running and using his smaller size as leverage.

 

[pherein]

He's basically Wes Welker, if Welker ran a 4.2 40 and was bizarrely good at coming down with jump balls. He'd be one of the most productive WRs in the league, easily, in NE. That's not to say I'd want to trade a first rounder for him--not that I wouldn't, either, I haven't thought much about it--but I definitely get the appeal.

Yeah though he wants more balls. I think this is common with competitive good players.
Id be unhappy not getting the ball if I can produce.
I for one would not be happy to risk a 1st round pick on a unknown, when you know what you have a 1st round player that is overly motivated to die for the ball. Cooks is a tank and not injury prown. More I think about it, this looks like a worse and worse move for the saints, lol. Hes a proven very good WR with speed, and very competitive, Find better highlights with better music. Im not crazy about the rap junk either







He is very motivated, and a smart guy, and I kind of think the arrow thing is cool
More I think about it cooks is a bargin for 32 maybe. SP might not want to break up the cooks, thomas tandum. But if BB could work it than youd have a solid player for for 3-4 seasons. Id expect a better trade or no deal. You watch this kid and you know like the great Edelman he has it..Not as good but hes got it.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Malcolm Mitchell is back, he just had a great 2nd half of the Super Bowl, which has been overlooked. Edelman and Hogan are back. Amendola could very well restructure. All of the above made big plays in the 4th quarter and overtime of the best comeback win in history. The best tight end in league history will return.

And there are people suggesting that the Patriots trade a 1st round pick for a wide receiver who whines. Every single year people bang the drum for wide receivers, because those are recognizable names from fantasy football, and they look nice on their Madden teams. Every offseason this happens.

Trade Jimmy G to the highest bidder, re-up Hightower, load the best defense in the league up with more defenders, and order more rings. Don't trade a 1st for a wide receiver.

 

[Nonentity]

Im guessing they probably offered #32 for Cooks + #76

I think that sounds a lot more like BB.

Cooks is exactly the type of receiver we've all been wanting for years - fast, good hands, runs solid routes. He's already proven he can succeed at the NFL level. And amazingly, he may be available in his early 20s, despite no serious character issues, which almost never happens.

But here are the downsides:

- He might not adapt to the Patriots system - can he get on the same page as Brady?
- We'd be giving up #32 in a deep draft, even if we did get a mid-round pick back
- Are you ok with paying Cooks more than Edelman in a year's time, and how will Edelman feel about that? (He's underpaid as it is...)
- In a salary cap environment, is it worth investing this many $$$s in the WR position, when the Patriots have repeatedly proven that you don't need an elite WR to win Super Bowls? (What you need is depth at almost every position and a championship defense, plus a top QB)

 

[pherein]

I
But here are the downsides:

- He might not adapt to the Patriots system - can he get on the same page as Brady?
- We'd be giving up #32 in a deep draft, even if we did get a mid-round pick back
- Are you ok with paying Cooks more than Edelman in a year's time, and how will Edelman feel about that? (He's underpaid as it is...)
- In a salary cap environment, is it worth investing this many $$$s in the WR position, when the Patriots have repeatedly proven that you don't need an elite WR to win Super Bowls? (What you need is depth at almost every position and a championship defense, plus a top QB)

Can only answer some of these. Cooks plays in the same team system Brady does with a lesser QB. So he should turn over well.
A #32 pick for an unknown is usually not better than a young known. I believe.
Cant answer the Edelman thing, but with your cap. They could be a crazy tandium.
Cap Hes not that exspensive as pointed out before. ITs just the 3 year you have to worry about and thats still 2 good years. And its not a huge increase to keep both if they work out and get SB's.
Dont know anymore. Just trying to help out, but more I look at it cooks might be a steal at #32. Really not seeing how a extra #32 helps the saints except on D, but hurts the offense at the same time.

 

[supafly]

Malcolm Mitchell is back, he just had a great 2nd half of the Super Bowl, which has been overlooked. Edelman and Hogan are back. Amendola could very well restructure. All of the above made big plays in the 4th quarter and overtime of the best comeback win in history. The best tight end in league history will return.

And there are people suggesting that the Patriots trade a 1st round pick for a wide receiver who whines. Every single year people bang the drum for wide receivers, because those are recognizable names from fantasy football, and they look nice on their Madden teams. Every offseason this happens.

Trade Jimmy G to the highest bidder, re-up Hightower, load the best defense in the league up with more defenders, and order more rings. Don't trade a 1st for a wide receiver.

While I agree that your approach seems to be a no-brainer, this is not the first we've heard lately about Belichick's desire to add a deeper threat. Hopkins, Cooks (possibly twice), and now maybe Marshall too.

Rumor is that Brady really worked hard on his deeper accuracy last offseason and the results were even more impressive than they anticipated. It's certainly possible that this could be real interest.

 

[thecore762]

Cooks is a player I've watched closely and he is very impressive, but let's not forget Brees is a pretty good QB that also makes people look good...

Positives for Cooks is that he can go deep and burn your corners, he can play the slot, and I think you can play him from the backfield like we do with Edelman time to time. I think BB is considering getting Cooks for s possible replacement for Edelman when he can no longer play at a high level.

For now I rather keep our 32nd pick and invest it on defense, or even an O-lineman in the 1st. We need studs to protect Brady in the pocket.

 

[AzorianPats]

Now I don't really know how I feel about the Pats trading away the #32 for Cooks, but for those saying they want the FO to invest more on defense, I mean we're going into FA with almost $70m in cap space. A lot of that is going into resigning our core defensive FA, and continuing to build on a really good defense.

I think Cooks is a really good player, but if he's complaining about not getting enough targets in NO, how's he gonna feel here with Gronk and Edelman?

I think pick 32 this year is a sweet spot to get one of those dynamic offensive weapons that could create a lot of problems for defenses like a Mccaffrey, or one of the elite Tight ends like a Howard, Engram or Njoku. I'd hate to give up that pick.

 

[nabwong]

I hear that they're related...cousins I believe.