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NFL Rumors: Titans may be frontrunner for Brandin Cooks

By Brad Berreman

Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) celebrates after a touchdown in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) celebrates after a touchdown in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Brandin Cooks is clearly available for the right price, and the Tennessee Titans maybe be ready to go after him.

After the New Orleans Saints scored 49 points and put up 555 yards of offense against the Los Angels Rams in Week 12 last season, without his involvement, wide receiver Brandin Cooks expressed frustration with his role in the offense.

Rumors of a possible offseason trade surfaced at the time, and have lingered a bit since. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen ramped things back up last week with a report the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans were involved in trade talks for Cooks. The New England Patriots reportedly offered a package including the No. 32 overall pick in this year’s draft for Cooks, which the Saints turned down.

The Titans have a clear need at wide receiver, and they may look to add someone in free agency. But they are clearly in the mix to acquire Cooks, and Charles Robinson of Yahoo! has pointed to them as the favorite.

Titans general manager Jon Robinson has declared they are open for business, and with two first-round picks (No. 5 and No.18 overall) he’s armed to make a deal. Saints’ head coach Sean Payton has indicated it would take a lot to pry Cooks away in a trade, but the Titans have what it takes to get it done.

Related Story: 5 teams who could trade for Saints' wide receiver Brandin Cooks

Cooks is in line for a contract extension, with a fifth-year option for 2018 that the Saints or whatever team acquires him will surely pick up. But he is young for a player entering his fourth NFL season (23; 24 on Sept. 25), so making a significant commitment long-term is absolutely palatable. Cooks is coming off back-to-back 1,1000-yard seasons, with 17 touchdowns over those two campaigns, so he could become one of the highest-paid receivers in the league with his new deal.

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