2014 NFL Draft grades: New Orleans Saints select Brandin Cooks

Nov 1, 2013; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Brandin Cooks (7) scores a touchdown against USC Trojans in the first half at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

With the 20th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints selected WR Brandin Cooks out of Oregon State.

New Orleans made a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to move up to the 20th pick, giving up the 27th pick and their third rounder, and got themselves one of those talented wide receivers they love to field.

Cooks was an All-Conference, All-American wide receiver for the Beavers, and won the Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s top wide receiver in 2013.

If the NFC South wasn’t already a bit weary of facing Drew Brees, it just got a little worse.

Cooks has some of the best hands you’ll ever see, and is an impeccable route runner, with the ability to just shake defenders while making it look easy. He’ll be a perfect fit into the Saints offense.

New Orleans had several needs, defensive line and offensive line among them, but with Cooks sitting there, it would be hard to see them pass. Like some of the other teams in the latter part of the first round, needs in the trenches might have be addressed in the second and third rounds, while you take the best player available now.

OVERALL PICK GRADE: B+

Home/New Orleans Saints