Patriots Aquire Receiver Brandin Cooks From Saints for Top Draft Pick

Saturday, March 11, 2017

 

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Brandin Cooks is a Patriot

The New England Patriots acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks in a trade with the New Orleans Saints on Friday night. 

For more on Cooks, see the charts below

In exchange for Cooks, the Patriots send their 2017 first (32nd overall) and third round (103 overall) picks to the Saints. New England also gets the Saints fourth round pick (118th overall) in the deal. 

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Brandin Cooks 

Cooks, 23 years-old, was taken 20th overall in the 2014 NFL draft and has one year remaining on his rookie contract with a fifth year team option.

He will be the sixth youngest player on the Patriots roster, two months younger than Malcolm Mitchell.  

Last season, Cooks finished with  a career high 1,173 yards on 78 catches and eight touchdowns playing with the Saints. 

In 2015, Cooks hauled in 84 catches for 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Malcolm Butler Speculation 

Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler had been part of trade rumors tied to Cooks especially after the Patriots signing of cornerback Stephon Gilmore on the first day of free agency.

Butler is a restricted free agent and has been tendered an offer of $3.91 million, but has yet to sign it, according to ESPN. Players aren’t allowed to be traded if they aren’t under contract. 

Patriots Shopping Spree 

Cooks was not the only trade that the Patriots made on Friday. 

Earlier in the day, the Patriots acquired defensive end Kony Ealy from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for their 2017 second round pick and the Panthers third round pick. 

Ealy was taken two picks before Patriots backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the 2014 NFL draft. 

The Patriots signed tight end Dwayne Allen to replace Marcellus Bennett, who has since signed with Green Bay, and Gilmore on Thursday. 

 

 

Related Slideshow: 16 Plays That Define the Patriots 2016 Season Regular Season - in Vines

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