WR Brandin Cooks, NO (2 Viewers)

[lardonastick]

I'm not sure he could've landed in a better spot. I have him at WR3 now, but in a tier with six other WR's. At the top of the tier, but I don't think I would move up in a draft to get him.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

He could destroy it all if he's drafted by a team with a strategically savvy QB.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

With the 20th overall pick, the New Orleans Saints select Brandin Cooks, wide receiver, Oregon State. At the start of his junior season (and what proved to be his last one) as an Oregon State Beaver, there were doubts about whether Cooks could perform at the number one receiver spot; he had played second-fiddle to current Steelers wideout Markus Wheaton prior to last year. In his first game as the primary receiver, he put up 196 yards and two touchdowns in the 13-catch route of Eastern Washington. The doubts people had about his game quickly vanished as he finished his junior year with an astounding 128 catches for 1,730 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a finalist for the 2013 Biletnikoff Award (awarded to the nation’s top college receiver), he managed to beat out fellow finalists Mike Evans (picked 7th overall in the 2014 draft) and Sammy Watkins (picked 4th overall) to win it. Saints fans will be hoping he follows in the footsteps of previous winners of the prestigious award, such as Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. Fast-forward a few months and he’s at the NFL Scouting Combine.

For the average NFL fan, Cooks wasn’t a household name like a Mike Evans was – that changed after that weekend in Indianapolis. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash of all receivers at the Combine (a blazing 4.33 seconds) and ran the fastest 20-yard and 40-yard shuttles of all receivers too (3.81 and 10.72 seconds, respectively).

His best performance at the Combine though, was his interview. Saints head coach Sean Payton called his interview “fantastic”, and said “it was pretty clear as to how he interviewed and how we felt about him”. They felt great about him, as evidenced by their trading up in the first round to draft the playmaker out of Oregon State. “He was the one remaining player in that group that was someone we identified that we might trade up to get if we felt it was necessary,” Payton said. They made him the first receiver they drafted in the first round since Robert Meachem in 2007.

Brandin Cooks – the Swiss Army knife Prior to free agency, the receiver depth chart was a worry. With Lance Moore gone, the position was even more of a precarious one. Behind rookie sensation Stills and the aging Colston were Joe Morgan (recovering from an ACL tear), Nick Toon (a season away from being a bust) and Robert Meachem (inconsistent). Every Saints fan had been desperately hoping for a receiver to be drafted. On Thursday night, their prayers were answered.

For New Orleans, Cooks is the perfect player. Picture him running a deep route out wide like Stills did often last year. With his speed and ability to get a clean release, Cooks will be able to burn corners without much else. If he can do that consistently, it forces defences to roll a safety over the top. Enter Stills. While exceeding expectations in the “burner” role (leading the league in yards-per-reception with 20), I can see Stills excelling even more in a Lance Moore type, move-the-chains role. And lest we forget, forcing the safeties to stay deep opens up the field for the matchup nightmare Jimmy Graham to work the seams. Throw in Colston’s work-the-middle possession role and we can allay all doubts about the Saints passing game. Deep routes isn’t the only thing Cooks can do, however. In 2013, Cooks caught only 13% of his receptions beyond 20 yards of the line of scrimmage – by contrast, Jarvis Landry (15%), Odell Beckham Jr. (17%), Kelvin Benjamin (25%) and Mike Evans (26%) all had a greater proportion of their receptions deep. The screen game is another area of the passing game that Cooks excels in. His punt-return experience comes in play with the ball in his hands and his run-after-the-catch ability will remind Saints fans of Darren Sproles. Sproles’ 71 receptions will need to be replaced and while Thomas/Ingram will take on most of them, expect Cooks’ contributions in the screen game to help alleviate the burden on the running backs.

Is he a two-trick pony then? There’s nothing wrong with that – smaller receivers tend to deal their greatest damage in the extremes of the field (deep and shallow catches) whereas bigger possession receivers do most of their work within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage. The answer though, is no. Cooks can do everything, and has proven it in college. 36% of his catches last year came between six and 20 yards; impressive, when you compare that to someone like Jordan Matthews (26%), Sammy Watkins (20%) and Mike Evans (33%). Cooks also had 26% of his catches come on screens which was less than Allen Robinson (28%) and MUCH less than Jordan Matthews (46%) and Sammy Watkins (57%). It’s not only the variety of where he caught balls that makes me think he’ll see the field often; it’s the variety of his routes too. Excluding screens, 18% of his catches were on slants/posts/corners, 37% on in/out routes and 39% on hitches/comebacks. All of that is useless though, unless you can catch the ball well. Here, again, he outdid his fellow collegiate wideouts, dropping only 4.7% of catchable balls. By comparison, Beckham Jr. dropped 6.5%, Matthews dropped 7.7%, Benjamin dropped 9.7% and Lee dropped 12.3%.

The Saints know all of this, and know that they have drafted a versatile weapon. “Coach Payton said I could be used in the slot and outside and possibly returning kicks,” said Cooks. Expect them to use him as they did Vaccaro on defense last year – everywhere. Cooks is THE MAN, a Swiss Army knife of the finest kind, and I for one cannot wait to see him on the field!

http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/brandin_cooks_dialing_up_aloe_blacc_for_the_new_orleans_saints_offense/16465744

 

[Sabertooth]

The best WR in the draft lands with a top-3 QB.

Cooks with Brees.

Watkins with Manuel.

Evans with McCown.

Beckham with Manning.

Benjamin with Newton.

Lee with Henne.

Adams with Rodgers is the only one close, but he's going to be in a dogfight just to put Boykin on the bench.

 

[Sabertooth]

How does Cooks stack up physically to Desean Jackson or Steve Smith? What kind of player is he? Pure speed? Jitterbug? Toughness? Who would be a reasonable comp for him?

 

[cloppbeast]

How does Cooks stack up physically to Desean Jackson or Steve Smith? What kind of player is he? Pure speed? Jitterbug? Toughness? Who would be a reasonable comp for him?

Cooks has more over all receiving and rushing ability than Jackson, who is mainly a deep threat. But he doesn't have Smith's toughness.

Cooks has a very unique skill set, difficult to comp. Maybe he's a mix between Darren Sproles and Desean Jackson. He's not a guy who will dominate in a single role. To reach his full potential, he needs a creative play caller who will move him to and fro - outside, slot, even in the backfield. I think Cooks found the perfect landing spot.

 

[LawFitz]

Easily my highest rated rookie for 2014 redraft, especially in return yardage leagues, where he could put up WR1 numbers if he grabs the Sproles role.

 

[Sabertooth]

How does Cooks stack up physically to Desean Jackson or Steve Smith? What kind of player is he? Pure speed? Jitterbug? Toughness? Who would be a reasonable comp for him?

Cooks has more over all receiving and rushing ability than Jackson, who is mainly a deep threat. But he doesn't have Smith's toughness.

Cooks has a very unique skill set, difficult to comp. Maybe he's a mix between Darren Sproles and Desean Jackson. He's not a guy who will dominate in a single role. To reach his full potential, he needs a creative play caller who will move him to and fro - outside, slot, even in the backfield. I think Cooks found the perfect landing spot.

A poor man's Harvin then? Or perhaps Cobb?

 

[John Paul]

He's an amalgam of Harvin, Moss and Steve Smith.

 

[LawFitz]

He's an amalgam of Harvin, Moss and Steve Smith.

He certainly played last year like them, but that said, he does have a long way to go before being at their level in the pros.

Just in terms of physical attributes though, he's not a poor man's version of these guys at all. In fact, he destroyed Smith and Cobb in the shuttle and 3-cone and was on par with or better than all of them in terms of straight line speed and BMI:

Cooks:

Combine Invite: YesHeight: 5096

Weight: 189

40 Yrd Dash: 4.31

20 Yrd Dash: 2.50

10 Yrd Dash: 1.53 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 16

Vertical Jump: 36

Broad Jump: 10'00"

20 Yrd Shuttle: 3.81

3-Cone Drill: 6.76

Harvin:

Combine Invite: YesHeight: 5111

Weight: 192

40 Yrd Dash: 4.39

20 Yrd Dash: 2.51

10 Yrd Dash: 1.47 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 19

Vertical Jump:

Broad Jump:

20 Yrd Shuttle:

3-Cone Drill:

Coming off right ankle injury, no workout but 40s

S. Moss:

Combine Invite: yesHeight: 5095

Weight: 181

40 Yrd Dash: 4.31

20 Yrd Dash:

10 Yrd Dash: 225 Lb. Bench Reps:

Vertical Jump: 42

Broad Jump:

20 Yrd Shuttle:

3-Cone Drill:

S. Smith:

Combine Invite: yesHeight: 5090

Weight: 184

40 Yrd Dash: 4.41

20 Yrd Dash: 2.51

10 Yrd Dash: 1.51 225 Lb. Bench Reps:

Vertical Jump: 38 1/2

Broad Jump: 10'01"

20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.25

3-Cone Drill: 7.44

Cobb:

Combine Invite: YesHeight: 5102

Weight: 191

40 Yrd Dash: 4.46

20 Yrd Dash: 2.53

10 Yrd Dash: 1.56 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 16

Vertical Jump: 33 1/2

Broad Jump: 09'07"

20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.34

3-Cone Drill: 7.08

4.40/4.52/4.63 40 range before Combine

 

[cloppbeast]

A poor man's Harvin then? Or perhaps Cobb?

Those guys have a little more thickness, so I wouldn't quite put Cooks in that conversation as a rusher. He probably will serve as a much better deep threat than either of them.

Also, he's no poor man's anything, imo. I believe he falls in the upper echelon - comparable to Harvin in talent, though not in style.

 

[FUBAR]

The best WR in the draft lands with a top-3 QB.

Cooks with Brees.

Watkins with Manuel.

Evans with McCown.

Beckham with Manning.

Benjamin with Newton.

Lee with Henne.

Adams with Rodgers is the only one close, but he's going to be in a dogfight just to put Boykin on the bench.

Latimer with Peyton.

Assuming he gets a chance to play with Peyton.

 

[Faust]

@LarryHolder

Rob Ryan on Brandin Cooks: "Anytime a player is hand picked by Sean Payton that's a receiver, you better believe he's going to be something"

 

[Faust]

Brandin Cooks signs four-year contract with Saints

 

[Faust]

Brandin Cooks plans 'immediate impact' for Saints

 

[Faust]

Payton-Cooks pairing ‘beyond exciting’

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Brandin Cooks - WR - Saints

Drew Brees believes first-round pick Brandin Cooks will be a "big contributor" in the Saints' offense right away.

As do we. NFL Network's Bucky Brooks recently projected Cooks to catch around 70 passes in year one. "There's no doubt he's a guy who has the ability to be a big contributor for us on offense this year," Brees said. Brees said he expects Cooks to have a hand in replacing Darren Sproles and Lance Moore in New Orleans' offense. Moore and Sproles combined for 108 receptions in 2013, leaving behind a lot of opportunity for Cooks and sophomore Kenny Stills.

Source: Associated Press
May 23 - 2:17 PM

 

[Faust]

Brooks: Saints have big plans for rookie Brandin CooksBy Chris Wesseling

Around the League Writer

Marc Sessler raised a few eyebrows when he predicted that New Orleans Saints first-round pick Brandin Cooks will lead all rookie wide receivers in production this season.

Sessler isn't alone in that sentiment.

On Friday's edition of the "Around The League Podcast," NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks predicted that Cooks will pile up "70-plus catches" as a rookie while supplanting the recently vacated roles of Darren Sproles and Lance Moore in the high-octane aerial attack.

"The fact that the Saints jumped up to get him shows that Sean Payton has a plan for him," Brooks explained. "And I think that plan could include him being the guy that plays all over the field ... He should have a big, big, big season. I'm not a fantasy football player, but I would put a lot of money on Brandin Cooks if he was my guy."

The No. 20 overall pick has already opened the eyes of Payton, defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and quarterback Drew Brees.

"There's no doubt he's a guy who has the ability to be a big contributor for us on offense this year," Brees said this week, via The Associated Press.

Brees and Payton have both echoed Brooks' point that Cook can replace Sproles' mismatch capabilities underneath as well as Moore's versatility as an inside-outside receiver.

Cooks is the perfect antidote for an offense that was showing signs of growing feeble -- just as Payton and Brees are the ideal combination to bring out the best in a uniquely talented playmaker.

The latest "Around The League Podcast" predicts 2014 starting lineups and talks insider goodness with Bucky Brooks.

 

[Lucky Dolfan 81]

I traded Evans +3.12 for Cooks and 2.03 and I can't wait to see this guy get on the field. I can see 75/1050/7 + 30/180/1 in year 1.

 

[cstu]

I traded Evans +3.12 for Cooks and 2.03 and I can't wait to see this guy get on the field. I can see 75/1050/7 + 30/180/1 in year 1.

As long as you're keeping your expectations reasonable.

 

[Milkman]

Yeah I'm trying hard to hold my rookie fever in check with this kid. He has everything you want in a receiver besides size and toughness which happen to be two of the most important traits I look for in a WR.

Feeling kind of conflicted actually. Lol

 

[cloppbeast]

@LarryHolder

Rob Ryan on Brandin Cooks: "Anytime a player is hand picked by Sean Payton that's a receiver, you better believe he's going to be something"

Payton drafted a first round receiver from Tennessee a few years ago. What was his name?

 

[cstu]

@LarryHolder

Rob Ryan on Brandin Cooks: "Anytime a player is hand picked by Sean Payton that's a receiver, you better believe he's going to be something"

Payton drafted a first round receiver from Tennessee a few years ago. What was his name?

First thing I thought when Cooks was drafted was of my boy Meachem.

 

[cloppbeast]

@LarryHolder

Rob Ryan on Brandin Cooks: "Anytime a player is hand picked by Sean Payton that's a receiver, you better believe he's going to be something"

Payton drafted a first round receiver from Tennessee a few years ago. What was his name?

First thing I thought when Cooks was drafted was of my boy Meachem.

Not saying Cooks won't do well. But let's not dubiously dub Payton a wide receiver Nostradamus.

 

[Rhythmdoctor]

@LarryHolder

Rob Ryan on Brandin Cooks: "Anytime a player is hand picked by Sean Payton that's a receiver, you better believe he's going to be something"

Payton drafted a first round receiver from Tennessee a few years ago. What was his name?

First thing I thought when Cooks was drafted was of my boy Meachem.

Not saying Cooks won't do well. But let's not dubiously dub Payton a wide receiver Nostradamus.

I believe he's saying the exact opposite actually… That Payton's one attempt was a failure. At least that's how I understood it since that's what happened (Meachem a bust).

 

[Archer]

Meachem's college career totals: 125 catches, 2140 yards, 17 TDs

Cooks' college career totals: 226 catches 3272 yards. 24 TDs (plus 340 more rushing yards and 2 more rushing TDs)

 

[lsutigers]

Not saying Cooks won't do well. But let's not dubiously dub Payton a wide receiver Nostradamus.

Amen. They are TERRIBLE at drafting WR's. Like New England bad. Loomis became GM in 2002. So 12 drafts resulting in 10 WR's:

2003 - Kareem Kelly - 6th round - bust
2003 - Talman Gardner - 7th round - bust
2004 - Devery Henderson - 2nd round - decent career but bust for value
2005 - Chase Lyman - 5th - bust
2006 - Mike Hass - 6th - bust
2006 - Marques Colston - 7th - steal
2007 - Robert Meachem - 1st - decent career but bust for value
2008 - Adrian Arrington - 7th - bust
2012 - Nick Toon - 4th - TBD
2013 - Stills - 5th - TBD, but trending up

 

[ffgiant]

Not saying Cooks won't do well. But let's not dubiously dub Payton a wide receiver Nostradamus.

Amen. They are TERRIBLE at drafting WR's. Like New England bad. Loomis became GM in 2002. So 12 drafts resulting in 10 WR's:

2003 - Kareem Kelly - 6th round - bust
2003 - Talman Gardner - 7th round - bust
2004 - Devery Henderson - 2nd round - decent career but bust for value
2005 - Chase Lyman - 5th - bust
2006 - Mike Hass - 6th - bust
2006 - Marques Colston - 7th - steal
2007 - Robert Meachem - 1st - decent career but bust for value
2008 - Adrian Arrington - 7th - bust
2012 - Nick Toon - 4th - TBD
2013 - Stills - 5th - TBD, but trending up

Thanks for posting this. I didn't realize that. I knew they were not Green Bay, when selecting WRs, but I never thought they were that bad.

I hope Cooks is going to change their draft fortune, but it sounds really funny when talking how good Cooks is/was, they mentioned he aced the interview. I can care less how good he can do interviews.

When I look at Saints depth chart, I wonder if he will get enough opportunities this year.

I guess Jimmy Graham will be the top target, now you have Colston and Kenny Stills at the top of their depth chart. Meachem is back with the team too. Pierre Thomas had 84 targets and 77 catches last year.

I am high on Cook in my dynasty ranking, but I will keep my expectation in check this season.

 

[Biabreakable]

Sean Payton and Drew Brees didn't arrive until 2006. But I agree the Saints have not had very good luck with their WR picks.

2002 - Donte Stallworth - 1st round 13th overall - had a couple ok seasons early in his career but pretty much a bust.

 

[Faust]

It looks like a significant number of those WR picks were made in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th rounds, where the historical rates for successfully "hitting" on those picks isn't overly high, so I don't think that it is clearly an indictment on the poor drafting of WRs for this current Saints regime.

 

[cstu]

It looks like a significant number of those WR picks were made in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th rounds, where the historical rates for successfully "hitting" on those picks isn't overly high, so I don't think that it is clearly an indictment on the poor drafting of WRs for this current Saints regime.

Their hit rate for WR's in the first three rounds is 0%.

 

[Rodeojones]

It looks like a significant number of those WR picks were made in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th rounds, where the historical rates for successfully "hitting" on those picks isn't overly high, so I don't think that it is clearly an indictment on the poor drafting of WRs for this current Saints regime.

Exactly what I was thinking. Rarely are late round picks described as "busts".

 

[cloppbeast]

It looks like a significant number of those WR picks were made in the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th rounds, where the historical rates for successfully "hitting" on those picks isn't overly high, so I don't think that it is clearly an indictment on the poor drafting of WRs for this current Saints regime.

Their hit rate for WR's in the first three rounds is 0%.

They may as well draft their WRs in the seventh round where they hit on 50% of their selections.

 

[Bamac]

I can care less how good he can do interviews.

I put some stock in the interview process. These aren't "So, tell me a little about yourself" interviews. They're determining how quickly a kid can pick up offensive concepts. And they're learning his ability to assess his own game.

 

[LawFitz]

LOL at where this thread has gone in the last page. Pound for pound I had Cooks as the best WR in this year's class. And he ended up in the best situation of any of the talents at the very top (although Adams and Matthews situations are close, the rest of the elite will need years to have the same type of surroundings).

I don't care in the slightest about their past WR picks when analyzing Cooks on the Saints. And I absolutely DO care about how well he interviewed. The Saints offense is one of the most complex in the NFL. If we're expecting fantasy relevance out of the gate, Cooks has to mesh well with the scheme right away and a home run interview is one indicator of that happening.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Not saying Cooks won't do well. But let's not dubiously dub Payton a wide receiver Nostradamus.

Amen. They are TERRIBLE at drafting WR's. Like New England bad. Loomis became GM in 2002. So 12 drafts resulting in 10 WR's:

2003 - Kareem Kelly - 6th round - bust
2003 - Talman Gardner - 7th round - bust
2004 - Devery Henderson - 2nd round - decent career but bust for value
2005 - Chase Lyman - 5th - bust
2006 - Mike Hass - 6th - bust
2006 - Marques Colston - 7th - steal
2007 - Robert Meachem - 1st - decent career but bust for value
2008 - Adrian Arrington - 7th - bust
2012 - Nick Toon - 4th - TBD
2013 - Stills - 5th - TBD, but trending up

For one thing, no one has mentioned the Saints' leading receiver and one of the best draft finds of any team in the league over the last 15 years - Jimmy Graham. Yes, a TE, but as we all know he plays more at WR than TE.

For another, Mickey Loomis did take over in 2002, but during his tenure he has had Mike McCarthy as OC (2000-04) and Sean Payton as HC (2006-). Loomis has done great things for the team's scouting department and overall analysis, but I really wonder what kind of authority or voice he had over these guys when picking WRs and TEs, especially Payton.

For another, this could be looked at as premium picks, 1st round to 3rd, when a team might be expected to do get a player of some value, and then after, 4th-7th, which might be more speculative. As we all know, that's where real "value" is found and where teams win leagues of all kinds.

1st - 3rd;

2002 (1.13) - Stallworth - as someone said above, a couple good early years but nowhere near the production for where he was picked - 11 year NFL career, 321/4837/35

2004 (2.50) - Devery Henderson - "decent career but bust for value"

2007 (1.27) - Robert Meachem - "decent career but bust for value"

2010 (3.95) - Jimmy Graham - one of the best steals of any draft

4th-7th:

2002 (6.196) - John Gilmore (TE) - 10 year NFL career w/ CHI & TB

2003 (6.203) - Kareem Kelly - bust
2003 (7.231) - Talman Gardner - bust
2005 (7.237) - Chase Lyman - bust
2006 (6.171) - Mike Hass - bust
2006 (7.252) - Marques Colston - steal
2008 (7.237) - Adrian Arrington - bust
2012 (4.122) - Nick Toon - TBD
2013 (5.144) - Stills - 5th - TBD, but trending up - Hit
The guys in italics, Payton wasn't around for the drafting.

Also, compare the totals for hit rates by round from this thread ("defining a "hit" as 50+ career VBD"):

rd 1 WR (46%)

rd 2 WR (22%)

rd 3 WR (14%)

rd 3 TE (8%)

rd 4 WR (8%)

rd 5 WR (2%)

rd 6 WR (0%)

rd 7 WR (0.4%)

Guys like Henderson and Meachem, while, yes, I agree with your description "decent career but bust for value" probably saw maximized value with Payton than they would have seen anywhere else. A prime example is Meachem, who goes off via FA signing with SD.... and proceeds to do nothing, then comes back to NO and boom within maybe 2 weeks of returning is back to catching a 40 yard TD bomb in the Dome. Henderson had 2 years of nothing, then Payton shows up and had a good deal of value to the team and led the league in yards per reception in 2 of the next 3 years. Both played important roles in a championship season. In terms of FF one or both were occasionally on the WR3 bye week radar from (2006-11). What's clear is that Payton got way more out of them than I would guess any other team could have.

Also, about Meachem let's remember the Saints real target that year was Dwayne Bowe, but it was the Chiefs who traded in front of the Saints to snipe him that year. 2007 was a really weak WR class, besides Bowe and way after Calvin (1.2), Meachem was better than Ted Ginn (1.09!), Craig Davis (1.30), Anthony Gonzalez (1.32), Dwayne Jarrett (2.45), and Steve Smith (NYG, 2.51). The only guy the Saints really should have maybe taken over Meachem at WR was Sid Rice (2.44). This year it was the Saints who learned from that experience and traded up to snipe Cooks away from the Chiefs, Panthers, Eagles and who knows who else.

Looking at this holistically the Loomis era 1st through 3rd is not bad. Under Payton one long term team value player (with occasional WR3 value) plus one absolute steal and a certified All-Pro is pretty darn good.

For the 4th through 7th rounds, you can't say anything much about the pre-Payton Loomis era. Under Payton though, hitting on the team's all time leading receiver is no small thing. He has produced more than any WR or TE in the 40+ years of Saints football, Colston, that is one hell of a pick. - Stills is another example of a guy who was absolutely maximized with the Saints, he finished 4th in receiving yards and 3rd in receiving TDs among rookie WRs, he had one drop in 51 targets (that's a 50/51 catch rate), led the league in ypc, played on 61.3% of all snaps, and "The NFL's best QB rating when throwing to a single wide receiver last season was Drew Brees to Kenny Stills (139.3)." [RW]. I'd say that's a hit already. - Arrington was a disappointment (he did get hurt quite a bit), and Hass fizzled, but let's also remember UDFA Lance Moore who was quite a find and real contributor, and like Meachem and Henderon was sometimes in the FF WR2-3 range. Altogether I'd say a steal, a hit plus two misses in rounds 4 through 7, plus a starter as an UDFA, is an excellent clip for any team, and maybe better than almost any other team.

Finally, let's keep in mind Sproles and Moore are now gone. You've got a fast track in the Dome, opportunity, and a HC who maximizes receivers' value, and a QB who has hit 5K+ yards three years in a row. Cooks and Stills should do great this year.

Having said all that, I think the biggest factor for both will be that Payton & Co. might be wanting to dial down Brees' passing totals and balance in the run more, plus with that rising defense, if they end up with 4300-4800 yards passing, instead of the 5100-5500 they've been getting, it would not surprise me.

 

[cloppbeast]

I am not suggesting Payton sucks at drafting receivers; I only intended to respond to Rob Ryan's comment. Sean Payton doesn't always pick wonderful receivers, sometimes he messes up. I don't even know whether he has more or less aptitude than average. IMO, it's completely irrelevant that The Great Sean Payton picked Cooks, with regards to the latter's talent level.

Having said all that, I think the biggest factor for both will be that Payton & Co. might be wanting to dial down Brees' passing totals and balance in the run more, plus with that rising defense, if they end up with 4300-4800 yards passing, instead of the 5100-5500 they've been getting, it would not surprise me.

I get a little worried when I expect 650 pass attempts in a projection. But given Payton's history calling plays, one must expect a lot of passes. (Almost) Every year the Saints have nearly the most pass attempts, if not the most.

Still, the back of my mind says: "maybe this year he decides to run more." Let's just hope not - that's my only response.

 

[Faust]

Regardless of their "hit or miss" rate on selecting pass catching players, what is clear from their actions and the comments, is that they feel like they landed a dynamic player in Cooks, who they intend to involve him in the offense in a significant way, and early on in his career.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Brandin Cooks has been taking "online courses" to learn the Saints offense while away from the team.

Cooks alma mater Oregon State is on the quarter system, meaning Cooks has not been able to practice with the Saints while his academic year came to a close. He was not completely disconnected from the team, however. Cooks and Saints coaches watched tape and went through the playbook together online. New Orleans hopes these classes will allow Cooks to hit the ground running when he reports to camp next week.

Source: ESPN.com

Jun 12 - 6:54 PM

 

[loqutis]

Tavon Austin #2, Peter Warrick, Ted Gin. The size is a major concern for me. So is the fact that he's the #3 receiving option, Colston, Graham, running game, then Cooks, and an old #### Drew. What happens to dynasty owners when Drew retires. Nick Toon, K. Stills. I'm not taking him top 5

 

[jurb26]

@LarryHolder

Rob Ryan on Brandin Cooks: "Anytime a player is hand picked by Sean Payton that's a receiver, you better believe he's going to be something"

This really made me laugh. Payton has had a rather poor track record for picking WRs.

 

[Milkman]

His size/toughness are big concerns. Still he landed in an ideal spot. Colston isn't as good as he used to be. Graham gets all the attention. The saints throw the ball a ton. Cooks is looking at lots of targets.

 

[cloppbeast]

Tavon Austin #2, Peter Warrick, Ted Gin. The size is a major concern for me. So is the fact that he's the #3 receiving option, Colston, Graham, running game, then Cooks, and an old #### Drew. What happens to dynasty owners when Drew retires. Nick Toon, K. Stills. I'm not taking him top 5

His stat chasing nature leads me to think Drew Brees will probably play into his 40's. That assumption gives him at least 5 more years.

I for one don't think that far ahead. Cooks first contract wouldn't even last that long.

 

[loqutis]

2013 receiving stats

Jimmy Graham = 86 reception

Marques Colston = 75

Pierre Thomas = 77

are you thinking Cooks grabs Darren Sproles receptions?

Kenny Stills = 32

Tavon Austin = 40

 

[Xue]

2013 receiving stats

Jimmy Graham = 86 reception

Marques Colston = 75

Pierre Thomas = 77

are you thinking Cooks grabs Darren Sproles receptions?

Kenny Stills = 32

Tavon Austin = 40

Yes. Cooks is going to be deadly on screens and should be able replace some of those Sproles receptions.

 

[scothawk]

He just went at 1.04 in a rookie draft i am in.

Its a start 4WR league but just the same.

Made me

 

[Sabertooth]

He could destroy it all if he's drafted by a team with a strategically savvy QB.

 

[Lucky Dolfan 81]

He just went at 1.04 in a rookie draft i am in.

Its a start 4WR league but just the same.

Made me

I drafted him at 1.04 as well a while back. Why the , that's his ADP.

 

[identikit]

He just went at 1.04 in a rookie draft i am in.

Its a start 4WR league but just the same.

Made me

I drafted him at 1.04 as well a while back. Why the , that's his ADP.

Yep.

 

[Faust]

@7RoundsInApril · Jun 10

Remember...comps use pre-draft info for all players - current prospects are compared only to past *prospects*. NFL careers not considered.

@7RoundsInApril · Jun 10

Ranked first by tier, and then within tier. Assumes all positions have equal value.

@7RoundsInApril · Jun 10

#1 to #5: Elite Prospects with Clean Profiles

@7RoundsInApril · Jun 10

#2 Brandin Cooks: mix of Desean Jackson and Steve Smith -- but problems with both comps