New Orleans Saints NFL Trade Rumors: Titans and Eagles Interested in Brandin Cooks; Saints Want First-Round Pick in Return
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks has suddenly become one of the most talked-about players during the scouting combine this week. Cooks has been the subject of trade rumors and his name has come up quite a lot in the past few days.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen said the Tennessee Titans and the Philadelphia Eagles are interested in acquiring him, but he's not going to come cheap. According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the Saints want a first-round draft pick in exchange for the wide receiver.
Well, that shouldn't be a problem for the two teams reportedly interested in him. The Titans do own a couple of picks in the first round (fifth and 18th overall picks) and the Eagles also claimed the 14th overall pick after they won their coin toss with the Indianapolis Colts. However, NFL.com's Marc Sessler has pointed out that the asking price for Cooks might be too high.
"Cooks is a talented receiver, but the idea of paying him like a top-five wideout is problematic. If he were truly this valuable, the Saints wouldn't spend the week aggressively shopping him," Sessler said in his report.
Sessler does have a point. Cooks is a productive player, but he has never made a Pro Bowl in his three seasons in the National Football League (NFL).
Meanwhile, in an interview with the Saints' official website, coach Sean Payton said Cooks wasn't exactly on the trading block. However, they weren't going to turn away teams if they call to ask about the wide receiver.
"I know (General Manager) Mickey (Loomis) has probably spoken to a handful of GMs or presidents with other teams, but right now I'm comfortable, we're comfortable with (Cooks) in a Saints uniform. We think the world of him and his skill-set. (Compensation for Cooks) would have to be something real significant," Payton said during the interview.