When the New England Patriots threw everything but the kitchen sink to pry Brandin Cooks away from the New Orleans Saints, it seemed as though the Patriots were going all in this season. But could it come with a sacrifice?
Cooks by trait can do it all, but his speed makes him a very lethal presence in the slot position. Where fan favorite Julian Edelman currently holds residence. It is obvious that Edelman isn’t getting any younger and is also heading into a contract year. This could very well influence how much Brady’s most trusted target is on the field.
As much as fans in New England love the Kent State alum, his injury history shows that he is just not as reliable as many would like a receiver to be.
For the past two seasons, Cooks played in every game for the Saints and improved in almost every statistical category. The receiver was however a victim of a broken system that couldn’t take advantage of all of the weapons they had.
Statistics do not lie and Cooks has already played two full seasons in his first three seasons in the NFL. While Edelman has only played the same number in eight seasons.
During his introductory press conference on May 9, Cooks talked about what he has seen in Edelman and has said nothing but great things about his fellow wide receiver.
“His work ethic is great. I always saw him from a distance [as] a guy that can play,” Cooks said. “And, once again, I’m excited to be able to play with a guy like that alongside him.”
During the conference, Cooks was also asked how the two could complement each other in this system to which he replied “I guess we’ll have to find out once the season comes.”
Whether or not Cooks hurts Edelman’s playing time remains to be seen. But it is a huge possibility that they see Cooks as a long-term option at wide receiver as Edelman gets older.
