SmashMouth

Multiple teams believe that New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks' name could surface in trade talks this offseason, sources told ESPN.

Cooks has acknowledged frustration with his role in the Saints' offense, expressing himself after a zero-target day against the Los Angeles Rams last week. He believes he is used too often as a clear-out receiver instead of as a primary option, sources told ESPN's Mike Triplett.

Cooks would be one of the most valuable commodities the Saints have and could bring plenty in return.

The Saints have shown they are willing to go big, previously trading tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks for center Max Unger and a first-round pick.

FWIW from Adam Schefter

The Dude

That would be dumb. The young guys are doing great now partially due to Brees accuracy. As he gets older he is going to need a playmaker like Cooks.

SaintFanInATLHELL

Really??!! This is the only thing the national media can talk about with the Saints?

Cooks is locked under his rookie contract until the end of the 2018 season.

Both Payton and Brees have waived this silliness off this week.

Let's just spend a minute analyzing this from a football perspective. Cooks has been torching defenses this season. He has two of the top 5 longest TD catches this season. So defenses like the Rams are playing shell coverages that are designed to limit big plays downfield. Cooks is by far the best option to clear out those types of coverages opening up the intermediate windows for Brees to throw into.

Now Payton can change the offensive design a bit if he really wants to feed Cooks. First off is involving Cooks near the line of scrimmage with jet sweeps and bubble screens. Second is to have packages where TommyLee takes over the deep clearout role and put Cooks into the slot so that he gets those intermediate opportunities.

But the bottom line is that Brees is going to go to the open receiver. And Cooks has proved himself dangerous enough that he merits special coverage. Of course with Thomas getting so much production, defensive coordinators are quickly getting into a pick your poison situation. That's going to open up more opportunities for Cooks.

This Cooks being traded discussion is truly a waste of electrons.

SFIAH

Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO

Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.

WhoDat!656

Sean Payton not a fan of Brandin Cooks trade speculation | ProFootballTalk

WillSaints81

Then we can draft one a stud is not going to wait until he's the go-to.

Rugby Saint II

Give them until we start training camp and see how our young crop of receivers look. Cooks would make good trade bait. Let's find out if we hany more new up and coming youngsters on the roster.

hagan714

Cook? he is a toy really but SP loves his toys. Lets talk Stephone Anthony gang. If any player makes sense it would be him. He has no role in DA defense it would appear. Still can not believe he appears top be odd man out. what team would be interested? And who?

Pats at the bottom of round 1 for Anthony and our second round pick?

Unless we are talking multi trades here.

Package deal to move up in round 1? Jabrill Peppers S, Michigan? why? Byrd becomes a cap casuality? Tenn maybe? They need speed at WR.

Once again SP loves his toys

Still like the idea of standing pat in round one and drafting Christian McCaffrey. He is a chess piece that would fit SP offense like a glove. Think of him as a larger version of Darren. Talk about a draft pick that would be hard to keep off the field. Sproles. Cook and McCaffrey would pose some mismatches all over the place.

Next move? start reading all over again.

Draft time pipe dreams abound.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins

halloween 65

Take Peppers and trade Vaccarro? Bell and Peppers would be solid youth, a few growing pains but could be a great tandem for years to come. Not many S's like Peppers come along very often. Living up here I get to watch him regularly, he passes my eyeball test. Trade Kenny for Peppers a get a 3rd would be perfect. I have no ideal of Anthonys worth in a trade, might be well suited in a 3-4 I imagine, but I'm sure the Saints FO will lose on this 1st round pick.

NOLA54

Not another one?

Cruize

Speedy and tough. Not worthy of the money he will seek soon. Trade him now why his value is high. It's what the Pats would do.