While Cooks does provide a veteran presence of a similar ilk to top receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, the team still lacks a proven, big-bodied, and physical wide receiver.
Veteran players like Keenan Allen and Amari Cooper carry traits that could help the team as X-receiver options, if signed. The two wideouts also have at least a season each of familiarity with head coach and offensive play caller Kellen Moore. But New Orleans could understandably wait until next month’s NFL Draft to pull the trigger on another deal.
The incoming rookie class provides several wide receivers of this mold. Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan is expected to be a realistic option for the Saints at No. 9 overall. Iowa State’s Jayden Higgin and Ole Miss receiver Tre Harris could be among the several day two options. An underrated name like South Dakota State University wideout Nick Nash could be a day three diamond in the rough.
There’s a good chance as well that if the board doesn’t fall in favor of drafting a wide receiver, other veteran options may still be available in the open or trade market.
Veteran players often wait until after the draft to sign, ensuring they don’t join a team that might replace them with a rookie.
We’ve seen this before in New Orleans. In 2017, future Hall of Fame running back Adrian Peterson signed a free agent deal with the Saints, who would later go on to draft star back Alvin Kamara that same offseason. Then, before the first quarter of the season had passed, Peterson was traded to the Arizona Cardinals.
That’s just one example, but it’s precisely what some veterans try to avoid when signing with a team.
On the other hand, some teams find already-signed veteran players to be expendable following the draft, making those plays available on the market or soon to be released.
Both are opportunities New Orleans could look to take advantage of in order to bolster their receiver room more. So, while the signing of Cooks is a pragmatic and helpful one, it is safe to say that the Saints should not consider their work finished at the position.
