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Philadelphia Eagles: Should They Trade For Brandin Cooks?
Should the Philadelphia Eagles trade for New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks?
As the start of the new NFL league year closes in, the rumors around the league start to heat up. According to Chris Mortensen of ESPN, per league sources, the Philadelphia Eagles are in trade talks with the New Orleans Saints to acquire their wide receiver, Brandin Cooks. This is the hottest rumor during the 2017 offseason for the Eagles and it is the one that should excite Eagles fans the most.
Cooks is a legitimate wide receiver in the NFL and would be able to be their top target right away. In his three-year career, Cooks has 215 receptions, 2,861 yards, and 20 touchdowns. He was selected with the 20th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and has become one of the better receivers over the last two seasons.
In 2015 and 2016, Cooks started to show why he was taken with the 20th overall pick. He caught 84 passes for 1,138 yards and nine scores in 2015 and then followed that up with 78 receptions, 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016.
Adding Cooks would obviously make sense for the Eagles, but there are two big hurdles. One of them is that, according to Mortensen, the Tennesee Titans appear to be the most likely suitor, over the Eagles. This hurdle makes the second even worse, which is the cost of the trade for Cooks. If it were just the Eagles trading for him, things would be easier, but with the Titans likely in the lead for his services, it will drive up the price.
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Add in the fact that Cooks is just 23 years old and it makes it likely that a high pick(s) will be involved. That brings up the big question: Should the Eagles trade for Cooks, even if the price tag is relatively high?
Yes, 100 percent. A first-round pick would be hard to swallow if that is what the Saints want. Though, if the Eagles want a player that is proven in the NFL, has elite ability to make plays, and has shown that he could be a cornerstone player for their franchise, then it makes sense. Many Eagles fans want the Eagles to select a first round wide receiver, but look no further than Nelson Agholor. That pick is never a guarantee to come in and be what you want. A first-round pick is always an unknown, but Cooks isn't.
You know what you're getting with Cooks and you need what you would get from Cooks. If the rumors are true, which Mortensen is usually spot on, then the Eagles need to go all in for him. Howie Roseman is great at orchestrating trades, so maybe he can work his magic and somehow only give up a second-round pick for him and a player. ESPN's Trey Wingo pointed out that Cooks has 11 touchdown catches of 30 or more yards since 2014, second-most in the NFL behind Odell Beckham Jr.
Regardless of the price tag (barring any crazy deal like two first-round picks), the Eagles need to get this done. Their offense needs a playmaker like Cooks and he would be a star in their offense. Quarterback Carson Wentz would thrive with a player like Cooks, who can stretch the field but also run the tough routes. This is a rumor that the Eagles need to turn into a reality. You don't get a chance to add a player like Cooks every year, so they need to jump on this opportunity and get Wentz a major weapon.
