NFL rumors: Malcolm Butler and Brandin Cooks to be traded
The NFL isn’t known for its trades, but the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints are reportedly working on a swap of stars.
While the rest of the league is getting ready to throw cash around at available players, Bill Belichick is thinking about a straight-up swap. After coming to terms with free-agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore on Thursday morning, a report has surfaced that the Patriots are open to trading Pro Bowl corner Malcolm Butler to the Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
The New England Patriots are considering trading Malcolm Butler to the New Orleans Saints for Brandin Cooks per sources
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 9, 2017
It has been rumored throughout the last week that Cooks is on the block, with New Orleans wanting at least a first-round pick in return. New England was supposedly trying to make something work, but got nowhere. Now, with the Saints in desperate need of defensive help and the Patriots sitting on a young corner who is a year away from free agency, perhaps a match can be made.
This wouldn’t be the first time Belichick has stunned us with a defensive star moving on. In fact, we’ve seen it myriad times over the years, ranging from Lawyer Milloy and Richard Seymour to Chandler Jones and Jamie Collins.
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As for Cooks, he’s had consecutive 1,100-yard seasons and would immediately upgrade the receivers on New England. Tom Brady has not enjoyed an outside weapon anywhere near the caliber of Cooks since the team employed Randy Moss years ago.