NFL Trade Rumors: Brandin Cooks drawing interest from Eagles, Titans
By John Buhler
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks could be moved this offseason. The Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans could be in the mix to land him.
Heading into 2017 NFL free agency on Thursday, Mar. 9, one great wide receiver could be on the move via trade. According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, “The New Orleans Saints’ Brandin Cooks is the most prominent receiver to have surfaced in potential trade talks involving both the Tennessee Titans and the Philadelphia Eagles.”
Cooks was a former collegiate standout with the Oregon State Beavers. He was the Saints’ No. 20 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Cooks is entering the fourth year of his rookie deal in New Orleans. Through three years with the Saints, Cooks has emerged as a clear No. 1 receiver in the NFL.
The notion of a potential trade involving Cooks surfaces for two key issues. The Saints have shown that they can develop their own offensive players in-house, but have no clue what they are doing defensively. Mortensen pointed out that this line of thinking allowed New Orleans to confidently trade tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Kenny Stills in recent years.
The other component to this is that Cooks feels marginalized in some capacity in the Saints offense. He feels at times head coach Sean Payton uses Cooks’ as a vertical, over-the-top threat to create space underneath for quarterback Drew Brees to operate. This has resulted in a limited number of targets in some games for Cooks.
Tennessee’s interest in Cooks is strong. They have a franchise quarterback in Marcus Mariota, an offensive-minded coach in Mike Mularkey and a great wide receivers teacher in offensive coordinator Terry Robiskie. The Titans need help out on the perimeter. Cooks would help in that regard. Could the Titans part ways with either of their first round picks, including No. 5 from the Los Angeles Rams?
Philadelphia needs to get its franchise quarterback Carson Wentz a vertical that to grow as a passer. Cooks would be by far and away the best wideout on the 2017 Eagles. Given that the Eagles have no cap space, trading for Cooks could be best way for them to handle their receiving issues.
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New Orleans looks to have a ton of leverage in this situation. Michael Thomas was excellent for them as a wide receiver in 2016. With two solid teams potentially interested, don’t be surprised if the Saints do part ways with Cooks.