The New England Patriots reportedly offered their No. 32 overall pick in this year's NFL Draft to New Orleans for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, but the Saints rejected the proposal.
The Saints felt the trade package being offered wasn't enough for the 23-year-old Cooks, sources told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. The proposal also included New Orleans sending a later-round pick to New England, according to the report.
Cooks has been the subject of trade talks this week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis as the Saints look to improve their defense, with the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles among his suitors, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported at least five teams have made overtures toward the Cooks, who recorded at least 1,100 receiving yards and eight touchdowns each of the past two seasons. The Saints' offense ranked in the top three in the NFL in yardage each of the past three seasons, but the defense finished 27th or worse each of those years.
"I've said this before: Brandin is someone we value tremendously in our system," Saints coach Sean Payton told the team's website at the Scouting Combine. "He's been extremely productive. He's everything we were wanting when we drafted him. Now, that being said, these news items come up, and there are a lot of meetings that take place here. I wouldn't say he's on the trade block. But certainly when a team calls, a team that's looking for a receiver, and we're looking to improve our defense, we're always listening."
The Saints traded up to select the 5-foot-10, 189-pound Cooks with the 20th pick of the 2014 draft. He had two of the four longest receptions in the NFL last season -- 98 yards and 87 yards.
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