Fansided

3 New Orleans Saints not named Drew Brees who probably won’t be back in 2021

By Rucker Haringey

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 24: Marcus Williams #43 of the New Orleans Saints warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes Benz Superdome on November 24, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 24: Marcus Williams #43 of the New Orleans Saints warms up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Mercedes Benz Superdome on November 24, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Jared Cook, New Orleans Saints
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 10: Jared Cook #87 of the New Orleans Saints reacts after a first down against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes Benz Superdome on November 10, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

Pick Analysis. TE. 15. Scouting Report. New Orleans Saints. Jared Cook. 2. player

Cook is the perfect pass-catching tight end to flourish in an offense triggered by Brees. Unfortunately for the 30-year-old veteran, he’s not the perfect tight end to free up Hill to make big runs on the perimeter in 2021.

That means New Orleans will likely pay the $2 million required to void Cook’s contract rather than keep him on the active roster for another season. He won’t be short of suitors in free agency, but he’s just not the right sort of player for the Saints to pay big money for at the current point in time.

Expect Cook’s absence to free up more snaps for 2019 third-round selection Adam Trautman. He may not be a mauler on the edge, but he’s a far superior blocker to Cook. He also excels in fooling opposing defenses by acting as if he’ll block only to release into an intermediate pass pattern down the field. He’ll serve as a solid safety valve for Hill.

Perhaps if Cook were a couple of years younger the Saints would be interested in retaining his services to help the next franchise quarterback in New Orleans thrive. He’s just not the right age to fit the team’s new offensive style or timeline. Cook will get paid handsomely in free agency but his days with the Saints are numbered.

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