The numbers behind why Saints’ TE Jared Cook may be dominant in 2020

Saints’ TE Jared Cook became an absolute monster in the second half of the 2019 season, and there’s no reason to think he can’t keep up the production.

Jared Cook has been labeled as a “matchup nightmare” for defenses in 2020 according to Saints’ tight end Dan Campbell as quoted by Bleacher Report’s Tim Daniels. While some may disagree with that statement, the numbers tell a different story, one that sparks hope for Saints’ fans.

After his first several games in the Big Easy that were concluded by being sidelined for a few games, Cook entered the second half of the season without the greatest numbers to back up his play, although everyone knew he had the potential to be among the best tight ends in the league.

That all changed when the Saints figured out how to use the dominant 6-foot-5, 254-pound target. It almost seemed like Brees sought out Cook more and targeted far more often in the red zone.

Cook, the eight games from Week 10 to Week 17, totaled seven touchdowns. That’s more total touchdowns than Cook has in the entirety of any other season of his 11-year career. He was that good to end the season.

He was scoreless in three of those games and notched two touchdowns in two. If he continued that pace for the entire season, Cook would’ve had 14 touchdowns. Baltimore’s Mark Andrews led the league with ten touchdowns.

If he had continued his dominance, Cook could’ve easily had the most, and his nine were already pretty far up the list. Primed for the best season of his career, Cook is now both comfortable with the playbook in the Big Easy and on a contract year.

He has everything at his disposal, including the NFL’s leader in completion percentage for three consecutive seasons, to have the best season of his career. That’s why, as the Saints enter 2020, Cook will be a “matchup nightmare” for opponents.

Be prepared, New Orleans, for Jared Cook to take over as the Saints’ top red-zone threat in 2020.