INDIANAPOLIS –Prospect evaluations aren't the only roster-building activities that get done at the Combine. With all 32 teams well represented in Indy, as well as most agents being on hand in the city, all sorts of player personnel discussions take place.
So it's not surprising that the Patriots have reportedly entered into some trade talks with the New Orleans Saints regarding young, speedy wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
According to various reports, the first coming from NOLA.com, New England is among five teams that have had initial talks with the Saints about Cooks. The Patriots reportedly offered up their first-round pick – No. 32 overall – in a package for Cooks that would include a later-round pick also coming to New England.
NOLA.com states that New Orleans is looking to get a pick in the middle of the first round for the 23-year-old receiver who's heading into his fourth NFL season. Cooks has topped 1,100 yards in each of the last two years with Drew Brees, had a career-best 15.0 avg. in 2016 and has 20 touchdowns over three seasons.
Other teams involved in trade talks for Cooks reportedly include the Titans and Eagles. NOLA.com reports that most teams involved at this point are offering a second-round pick for the 5-10, 189-pound playmaker who was the 20th overall pick in the 2014 draft out of Oregon State.
Bill Belichick has been quite praiseful of Cooks over the last couple years, getting an up-close look at the receiver in joint practices in the summer with the Saints.
"He's a really good player," Belichick said last year.
New England's current wide receiver depth chart includes Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Malcolm Mitchell, Matthew Slater and Devin Lucien, with Michael Floyd an impending free agent.
