The New England Patriots have stuck on a big trade with the New Orleans Saints. Brandin Cooks will be shipped to New England along with a 4th round pick in exchange for a 1st and 3rd round pick. Dianna Russini of ESPN reported the trade.
TRADE! The Patriots have traded their #32 & 3rd #103 pick to the Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks & their 4th #118 pick per sources
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 11, 2017
Cooks will enter this season with one year left on his rookie contract. He has a $781,599 bonus Cooks is due Monday which motivated the timeline of the trade. Cooks, 23, is a former first-round pick of the Saints from Oregon State back in 2013. In 2016 he caught 78 receptions for 1,173 yards and 8 touchdowns. The Patriots receiving weapons looks awfully dangerous as Cooks will pair with Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, and Danny Amendola. Tight Ends Rob Gronkowski and Dwyane Allen might give New England the best group in the NFL.
Michael Thomas now becomes the number 1 receiver for the Saints after a dominating season. Cooks was clearly unhappy with his role in the Saints offense with the growing role of Willie Snead in the offense.