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March 11, 2017

Brandin Cooks

No. 1 goes from Saints to Patriots

Brandin Cooks is a Patriot, and in some respects it's exciting -- a young, electric receiver going to the Super Bowl champs to work with Tom Brady. But we'll see. How much offense will there be in New England to go around?

In New Orleans, whose defense was always terrible, the Saints annually put up crazy passing numbers, with all their receivers benefiting. New England threw for 50 yards less per game last year than New Orleans did. They've got Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, a couple of good or great tight ends, Malcolm Mitchell, maybe even Danny Amendola.

How is Cooks going to put up elite numbers in New England?

He moves to the head of their receiving corps, but there will be games where he gets left out of the fun. Edelman will probably catch more passes. Rob Gronkowski, if healthy, will catch more touchdowns. Hogan had a pretty good season and has some downfield potential. Mitchell had a credible rookie season.

If you believe Cooks is going to have a big season, who will he be taking numbers away from? Edelman, Hogan, Mitchell, Gronkowski? One of those guys seems inevitably likely to lose some chances, going from a potentially great fantasy player to a good one.

I think it's a negative for Hogan, certainly, and will probably block the emergence of Mitchell. Maybe the acquisition of Dwayne Allen and now Cooks speaks to concern about Gronkowski's ability to stay healthy after myriad back issues.

A great trade for the Patriots, while the Saints also get a couple of nice draft picks to work with. (As an aside, it's a plus for Michael Thomas and Willie Snead, though the Saints have also added Ted Ginn Jr., granted a steep drop from Cooks.) Note that this is similar to what the Patriots did with Chandler Jones last year -- getting something now for a player they didn't want to pay next offseason.

But the fantasy prospects of some individual Patriots aside from Tom Brady? Not quite as appealing.

--Andy Richardson

Brandin Cooks Rob Gronkowski Julian Edelman Chris Hogan

6 Reader Comments:

James Costello

Portland, ME
2017-03-11T15:47:06Z
As a Pats fan I've shied away from all of their receivers not named Gronk for years

DAVID DIGREGORIO

Norristown, PA
2017-03-13T13:47:00Z
He was complaining about targets with NO. I hope he doesn't make that mistake with NE. But, wow! how the rich got richer!

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2017-03-13T16:00:23Z
This doesn't strike me as as awful as Seattle's trade for Graham. But I don't like it for New England. It's always been their depth that's stood out. And their cap management. Now they've got a guy who complained about targets in New Orleans, and who's on the verge of getting paid. And he's cost them a good, young cheap player. Next offseason they'll be trading him for less than they just gave up.

Richard Loppnow

Ephrata, WA
2017-03-13T16:01:50Z
Unless they've decided Gronk will never really be healthy ever again, so now are going to transition to more of a wide receiver passing game.

ANDY RICHARDSON

Port Chester, NY
2017-03-13T16:52:52Z
I don't really understand the deal from New England's point of view either, unless age/injury with their existing wideouts is a big concern. Cooks is a very good receiver but it's not like bringing in Randy Moss or anything.

Richard Jackson

Berkeley, CA
2017-03-18T00:16:42Z
The Pats would not have traded away a 1st and 3rd if they did not have big plans for him. They are arguably the smartest franchise in the NFL, and have apparently been watching Cooks for some time.
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