Patriots Trade 1st Round Pick for Saints Brandin Cooks

New England has gotten even better, if that was even possible

A trade many had anticipated is now official according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini. New England will trade the 32nd overall pick in this years NFL Draft along with a third-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick.

Despite earlier rumors cornerback Malcolm Butler will not be traded to New Orleans as part of the Cooks deal.

Reports are that Cooks, who has a one-year option left on his rookie deal, will not immediately sign a new contract with the reigning Super Bowl champions.

Philadelphia and Tennessee were originally believed to be the favorites to land the Saints receiver, but did not want to pay up with their high first-round draft picks.

In Cooks, the Patriots are getting one of the most dangerously fast wide receivers in the NFL. Playing in just his third season as a professional Cooks had his first consecutive 1,100 receiving yard seasons.

When Cooks participated in the NFL Combine prior to the 2014 NFL Draft he ran a 4.33 in the 40-yard dash.

New England, who earlier in the day acquired pass rusher Kony Ealy in a package that included giving up a second-round pick, currently does not have a draft pick until the third round.

While typically a quiet team in the offseason in terms of acquiring stars the Patriots have done everything they can to give quarterback Tom Brady his sixth Super Bowl ring.

Prior to trading for Cooks and Ealy the Patriots spent the first day of free agency signing cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

Cooks became extendable to New Orleans with the emergence of Michael Thomas and Willie Snead last season, and the signing of veteran Ted Ginn Jr. earlier in the free agency signing period.

With two first round picks the Saints have an opportunity to either trade up in the first round to draft a star, or find two really good players to help build a barren defense.