Top 10 New Orleans Saints to watch at training camp: No. 3, Brandin Cooks

By Andrew Schuster | Jul 28, 2015

With training camp just one day away, the excitement for the new season is more apparent than ever. After an uncharacteristic display of football a season ago, the New Orleans Saints will be looking to get back on a steady beat, which means certain players will need to step up, including second-year wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

The Saints first-round draft pick in 2014 led all rookies with catches. That was, until he fell to a season-ending hand injury during the Week 11 matchup versus the Cincinnati Bengals.

Now, at full health and appearing faster than ever at OTAs and minicamp, Brandin Cooks is in line for a considerable increase in snaps with tight end Jimmy Graham and wideout Kenny Stills out of the picture. By the time 2015 is all said and done, the Oregon State product could be Drew Brees‘ leading pass catcher.

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Cooks has been shining since the first week of organized team activities kicked off in May. The speed demon will be looking to carry that momentum over into training camp Wednesday. Again, with Graham and Stills taking their talents to other organizations, Cooks’ role will certainly be extended from a season ago.

"“He’s part of the package. He’s part of what we do. As a rookie he was in there, but certainly he’ll get more snaps. When he got hurt, he was kind of incomplete, so I think you’ll see a player is healthy in his second year. He’s got a lot of knowledge of what we’re doing, and I think he’s looking forward to having a good season.” – Head Coach Sean Payton"

Brandin Cooks looks to bounce back in 2015 after that Week 11 injury. He was on the verge of a solid first campaign, totaling 550 yards and three touchdowns on 53 receptions (team-high through 11 weeks), adding another 73 rushing yards and a score.

Like Coach said, Cooks is growing and getting better, and you can really see that. We can thank his determination, concentration and passion to learn the game, but that speed should also get some credit. Plus, the kid’s got his head on straight.

Brandin Cooks has just about everything you want to see from a professional standpoint. He’s going to be quite difficult for opponents to adjust to and defend for a very long time. He looks to be the real deal. The potential is there and the ceiling is endless. With the starting job in his hands, he’ll look to shine in his second year in that high-powered New Orleans Saints offense, beginning Wednesday when training camp gets underway in the mountains of West Virginia.

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