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Expectations are high for Jared Cook and the tight end did nothing to disappoint teammates, coaches or fans during the New Orleans Saints three-day minicamp this week. He looks primed for a big season.

During the three mini-camp practices I watched, no one caught more passes for explosive plays than the veteran free agent.



Listed at 6-5, 254 pounds, Cook has a lean build and can still run at age 32. He routinely beat linebackers and safeties in coverage and showed a reliable set of hands. He used his height advantage to snare a pass over his head against tight coverage from 5-11 rookie safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and finished the play through contact. It was an impressive display of elite skill and athleticism, something the Saints haven’t had at the position since Jimmy Graham was traded in 2014.

Cook hasn’t caught a pass in an official game for the Saints yet but he looks like a major upgrade over Ben Watson and Coby Fleener, the men who have manned the lead tight end position the past few years for the Saints.

♦ If there’s a standout from the Saints undrafted rookie class it’s been Carl Granderson, the edge rusher from Wyoming.

Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport are entrenched as starters, but the opportunity exists for Granderson to make the roster as a pass rush specialist.

Granderson showed nice burst off the edge and is already working with the second-team defense during some drills. That’s a good sign for Granderson, as is the $85,000 investment the Saints made in him after the draft.

We’ll learn a lot more about Granderson when the players don pads at training camp in the fall, but he’s made a favorable early impression. His first step might be the quickest of all the defensive linemen.

♦ Here’s one bold prediction: Gardner-Johnson will instigate at least one fight during practice at training camp. You can see it coming from the cocksure rookie defensive back.

Gardner-Johnson plays with an edge uncharacteristic of most rookies. He’s one of the most physical players in the secondary and isn’t afraid to deliver an extra-hard “love tap” to receivers during non-tackle drills.

I like Gardner-Johnson’s confidence and physicality, but he’s going to have to understand where the line is on such plays or some of the team’s wide receivers are going to take exception to it.

♦ Larry Warford’s injury has created opportunity for Erik McCoy. Because the Saints don’t want to overload the rookie second-round pick with too much info too early, McCoy manned the center position while veteran Nick Easton replaced Warford at right guard.

McCoy (6-4, 303) and Easton (6-3, 303) are listed at roughly the same size, but McCoy looks noticeably larger to the naked eye.

It’s understandable that McCoy had a couple of botched snap exchanges with Drew Brees on Wednesday. The vast majority of his snaps at Texas A&M came out of the shotgun formation. He’ll have all of training camp to iron out those wrinkles.

McCoy will still have to win the center job from Easton in training camp after Warford returns, but he has a nice head start in the competition thanks to the extra work he received this past month.

♦ Matt Dayes might be someone to watch in the Saints backfield. The 5-9, 205-pound Dayes lacks ideal size and speed but he’s a versatile back with good vision.

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jeanpierre

Twittering with Barry Hirstius, he was really impressed with Granderson; his first step is a WOW moment...

It's all shorts right now, but Barry's impressed with what he saw in person...

Rugby Saint II

This all sounds great but cocky rookies could throw off the locker room chemistry. I don't think it will happen to us but it could....

K Major

I'm excited to see quite a few guys (rookie Gardner-Johnson/PRob/Murray) at camp but I think Jared Cook will be outstanding for us in New Orleans.

Big, strong & can create separation for substantial yardard. He's made quite a few highlights slamming cornerbacks (Aqib Talib twice), strong safeties etc.

More importantly he wants to be here to play & catch passes from Drew. Remember the last person who said he "wanted to be in New Orleans and play with Drew ? ... Demario Davis. We saw the result on Sundays.

Solid FA signing at a position of need.

K Major

Carl Granderson ... interesting prospect. Local NO beat writers thought he was "quick" and had a good 1st step at rookie/mini camp.

If he can get his legal issues cleared, he may surprise at training camp.