It looks like there are too many Cooks in the kitchen in New Orleans.
Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks voiced his displeasure with a zero catch, zero target game in Week 12 — a game in which the rest of his teammates saw plenty of action in a 49-21 blowout of the Los Angeles Rams.
And while it’s understandable — he’s a former first-round pick and arguably New Orleans’ most talented wide receiver — it’s that criticism that reportedly has some team officials wondering whether Cooks is a good fit in their system.
“Cooks’ frustration with his role in the offense led some to wonder if this is the best system for his talents, something the Saints likely will explore in the offseason,” NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport wrote Sunday. “Expect trade talks centered around Cooks leading up to the free-agency window, with the speedster no doubt set to draw interest.”
Rapoport adds that the situation could be similar to that of former Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, who was traded to the Seattle Seahawks amid to a contract dispute. But that’s not the only problem.
“For Cooks, it might be because of his impeding contract, as well as the fact that the team seems to have found receivers such as Willie Snead and breakout star Michael Thomas who better fit what they do,” Rapoport wrote. “It’s a tricky situation, made more difficult by Cooks’ close relationship with Brees. But the fact that the Saints, the No. 1 offense, scored 49 points without him catching a ball last week might contribute to what should be a very interesting offseason.”
Plenty of teams likely will be interested in Cooks, though Rapoport didn’t specify any one of them. But the Philadelphia Eagles are a perfect example of a team that has repeatedly looked for wide-receiver talent to whom  rookie quarterback Carson Wentz can throw.
So while it might be a slight overreaction by the Saints to move the talented, young Cooks, there certainly shouldn’t be a shortage of suitors contending for his services.
Thumbnail photo via Chuck Cook/USA TODAY Sports Images
