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New England Patriots: 5 Reasons to Get Wicked Excited About Brandin Cooks

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) carries the ball after a catch for a touchdown in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) carries the ball after a catch for a touchdown in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) and wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) take the field for warm ups prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) and wide receiver Danny Amendola (80) take the field for warm ups prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

The age factor

Despite the weapons the Patriots already have, receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola are both in their early 30s..  Even Chris Hogan is nearing the age of 30 at 28.   Combine that with the fact Edelman is also entering the final year of his contract and there you have the reason the Patriots are actively addressing the wide receiver spot.

So, with Brandin Cooks just 23 years of age, New England has added youth as well as the over-the-top speed they’ve been looking to address for quite some time.

The fact that he is so young is another reason giving up their first-round pick is worth it.  In Cooks, they have a player capable of being their No. 1 receiver.  They also have a player with tremendous upside and a player who has already put up some tremendous numbers in the NFL while playing with another elite quarterback in Drew Brees.

If Cooks is so great, why did the Saints make him available?

One reason is the emergence of wide receiver Michael Thomas as their No. 1 receiver. Another reason is  financial, which now becomes the Patriots responsibility.

Cooks will eventually demand a big contract, especially if he continues to be an explosive receiver in the NFL.  The Patriots will get him at a pretty cheap this season, but if they chose to exercise his fifth-year option for the 2018 season, it will cost them around $9 million.

He could be a one-year or two-year rental for the New England Patriots if money becomes an issue.  I would like to believe Bill Belichick has a long-term plan for Cooks. Otherwise he wouldn’t have given up a first-round pick for a short-term option.

As of now, the Patriots will have two young good receivers in Brandin Cooks and Malcolm Mitchell with high ceilings.

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