Sunday morning the New Orleans Saints signed first-round NFL Draft pick wide receiver Brandin Cooks to his four year rookie deal the team officially announced.
Cooks was the No.20 overall pick by the Saints. During the first round of the draft New Orleans actually gave up a third-round draft pick to the Arizona Cardinals in order to move up from No.27 to take Cooks the former Oregon State star receiver. He will make 8.383 million during the contract with a signing bonus of more than $4.4 million.
Cooks was the winner of the Biletnikoff Award this offseason, given to the top college receiver in the nation.
In his final season in college with the Beavers he completed 128 receptions for a total of 1730 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was the top receiver from the Pac-12 chosen in the 2014 NFL Draft.
He is also an explosive athlete with elite speed (4.33 40 yard dash) and terrific hands plus ball skills who can create tons of yards after the catch. With his great hands and above-average speed he will be an every down receiver on the Saints right away, that coach Sean Payton and company can’t wait to get on the field.
Cooks joined the team looking to fill a couple holes on offense, namely because of the trade of Darren Sproles to Philadelphia and the release of receiver Lance Moore, who has signed with Pittsburgh in the offseason.
The Saints were also able to lock up their second-round pick this weekend Stanley Jean-Baptiste to a four-year contract Saturday. Jean-Baptiste is a 6-foot-3, 218-pound former Nebraska cornerback selected 58th overall last week by New Orleans.
Jean-Baptiste was a second-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior last season, when he tied for a team-high four interceptions, one of which he returned 43 yards for a touchdown. He also was credited with 12 pass breakups and 41 total tackles, including four tackles for loss.Jean-Baptise is an excellent addition to Rob Ryan secondary.
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