SmashMouth

Sean Payton can talk up his belief in the Saints wide receivers room all he wants to over the summer, but the position remains a weakness for New Orleans. Until Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill takes over the offense and breaks into the potential some of their young speedsters have had advertised, there isn’t much to write home about outside No. 13.

Someone who’s taken notice of greener pastures is Jared Cook, the former Saints tight end who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. When asked about his take on his new team, Cook offered a blunt assessment of his new teammates.

“Just seeing the talent we have here at receiver, it’s just as good, probably better talent here than we had in New Orleans,” Cook said Tuesday during a Periscope interview with Los Angeles media.

Saints fans aren’t going to want to hear that — particularly from Cook, whose costly fumble helped seal a Buccaneers upset in the team’s last playoff game — but it’s true. Let’s compare the units. Right now, New Orleans is trotting out a group of roster locks in Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, and All-Pro return man Deonte Harris with rookie draft pick Kawaan Baker pushing youngsters Marquez Callaway, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, and Jalen McCleskey for a roster spot or two.

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