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http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18827047/new-england-patriots-interested-dealing-new-orleans-saints-receiver-brandin-cooks

 

The Patriots offered their No. 32 overall pick in this year's NFL draft to the Saints for receiver Brandin Cooks, but New Orleans rejected the proposal with the hope of landing a better pick from another team, NOLA.com reported Saturday, citing multiple sources. According to the report, the Patriots' proposal also included New Orleans sending a later-round pick back to New England.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen first reported that Cooks has been the subject of trade talks this week at the NFL scouting combine, with the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles among his suitors.

NOLA.com said that at least five teams have made overtures toward the dynamic 23-year-old receiver, who is coming off back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons.

The Patriots know New Orleans' personnel well, having joined it for joint practices in each of the past two training camps. Bill Belichick said of Cooks last year, "I'm glad we don't have to play him twice a year and he's not in our division. He's a really good player."

Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis both told the team's website last week that they value Cooks, and it would take a lot to pry him away, but neither denied the reports that he has been the subject of trade talks. Both described it as normal for such discussions to take place at the combine.

"I've said this before: Brandin is someone we value tremendously in our system. He's been extremely productive. He's everything we were wanting when we drafted him," Payton said. "Now, that being said, these news items come up, and there are a lot of meetings that take place here. I wouldn't say he's on the trade block. But certainly when a team calls, a team that's looking for a receiver, and we're looking to improve our defense, we're always listening."

The Saints traded up to draft Cooks with the 20th pick of the 2014 draft. He has emerged as one of the NFL's most dynamic playmakers, with a total of 17 touchdown catches the past two seasons and two of the four longest receptions in the NFL last season (98 yards and 87 yards). However, the Saints are deep at the receiver position, thanks to the emergence of 2016 breakout rookie Michael Thomas. They have much more glaring needs on defense.

The Saints have shown an ability to maintain one of the NFL's top offenses after moving on from top playmakers, including tight end Jimmy Graham, who was dealt to Seattle in a blockbuster two years ago. Although Payton shot down reports of a possible Cooks trade in recent months, the idea started to gain momentum last year, when Cooks expressed his frustration with his role in New Orleans' offense after he had zero targets in a 49-21 rout of the Los Angeles Rams, including the memorable line, "Closed mouths don't get fed."

Cooks was frustrated when he felt he was being used too often as a clear-out receiver. However, Cooks insisted that his passion came from wanting to be great and to help the team, and there didn't seem to be a lingering issue between the team and player after that. Payton blamed Cooks' former agent for stirring things up.

The Saints' willingness to trade Cooks likely would be about their needs at other positions, the high value they could get in return for him and the fact that his price tag will escalate soon. Cooks is heading into the final year of his rookie contract at the bargain rate of $1.56 million. But that deal includes a fifth-year option, which will likely cost around $8.5 million for 2018. Cooks' next contract extension after that will likely cost more than $10 million per year, an investment the Saints might not have been willing to make in both Cooks and Thomas.

Edited by Clemfield2622
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Posted

Watch them pick up Bob Woods

 

Watch them dump Garoppolo and Gronk for a boatload of picks and treats. Didn't need them to win it, perfect Pats move.... wheel turning round and round...

Posted

When you have a franchise QB, you can do things like this. The pats have proven, QB and System >>>>>>>> Than anything else. Maybe in the next 100 years the Bills will figure this out.

Posted

It was said that the trade included pick 32. It was probably like the Patriots first round for the Saints second/third rounder and Cooks.

 

I doubt the pats offered their first straight up for Cooks.

Posted

When you have a franchise QB, you can do things like this. The pats have proven, QB and System >>>>>>>> Than anything else. Maybe in the next 100 years the Bills will figure this out.

200 years...

Posted

It was said that the trade included pick 32. It was probably like the Patriots first round for the Saints second/third rounder and Cooks.

 

I doubt the pats offered their first straight up for Cooks.

The Patriots offered their No. 32 overall pick in this year's NFL draft to the Saints for receiver Brandin Cooks,

 

This was literally the 1st line of the article. I suppose it would be part of a package, but that wasn't indicated.

Posted

The Patriots offered their No. 32 overall pick in this year's NFL draft to the Saints for receiver Brandin Cooks,

 

This was literally the 1st line of the article. I suppose it would be part of a package, but that wasn't indicated.

 

 

Ian Rapoport Retweeted Josh Katzenstein

No. 32, yes, but would involve a swap of picks. Not a true first rounder (yet)

Posted

thanks for adding that, obviously it wasn't in the link I provided from the original story.

 

Not shocking that the Pats would be trying to maximize their return, it's in their nature.

Posted

The Patriots offered their No. 32 overall pick in this year's NFL draft to the Saints for receiver Brandin Cooks,

 

This was literally the 1st line of the article. I suppose it would be part of a package, but that wasn't indicated.

also from the article:

According to the report, the Patriots' proposal also included New Orleans sending a later-round pick back to New England.

Posted

That would be the nature of GOOD teams.

 

They have the LUXURY of trying to improve on weaknesses while all the other teams are desparately trying to PLUG HOLES.

 

If there is a chasm in football it is THAT which must be traversed before you are playing with the BIG BOYS.

Posted

They are playing chess while the rest of the idiot teams are playing checkers.

 

Are there people on here who call the Cheaters every day and then attack those of us who can understand their commitment to excellence without cheering for them? Hope they got left behind in the Bonfire of the Vanities of the BBMB...

Posted

Cooks with the Pats would be sickening. They have Edelman, Hogan, Mitchell, and Gronk already. Then you add a guy who can run the fly routes and posts all day? It would be like 2007 all over again for their offense.

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