Saints Player Rankings: Emerging ‘one-on-one nightmare’ Jared Cook breaks the top 10
Despite an underwhelming start with the New Orleans Saints, Jared Cook is set to have a breakout season in 2020 and is No. 10 on our player rankings.
In classic Saints fashion, a series of mishaps kept veteran TE Jared Cook from reaching his highly-touted potential in the 2019 NFL season.
After missing time in training camp due to injury, his chemistry development with Drew Brees was further stunted by Brees’ abrupt thumb injury in Week 2. He never seemed to click with Bridgewater, but not everyone can be Michael Thomas.
That said, the second half of that season is much more telling of Cook’s potential and foreseen breakout season in (hopefully) 2020.
In terms of numbers, Cook averaged over 15 yards per reception at 16.4 last season, and finished out with 9 TDs; comparatively, Mark Andrews averaged 13.3 yards per catch with 10 TDs, Travis Kelce with 12.7 yards per catch and 5 TDs, and George Kittle had 12.4 yards per catch with 5 TDs.
Yet, the discussion surrounding Cook remains decidedly mum – dare I say, Cook is dangerously underrated?
The Saints excel at analyzing players and using them in just the right way to create a perfect nightmare for opposing teams. Their use of Cook is no exception; he may not have the constant field presence as someone like Kittle, but when he’s on the field, at his size, it’s a matchup nightmare.
Playing at full potential, teams likely need to double Cook – a feat near impossible with this year’s roster. While teams are busy chasing down Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Alvin Kamara and, frankly, Taysom Hill, watch closely for Cook’s emergence as a top offensive weapon for Brees.
Which is exactly what the Saints are banking on, and why he remains highly regarded despite a lackluster initial season of growing pains.
Anyone who watched the first quarter of the Saints vs. 49ers last year should know just how lethal Jared Cook is when he hits his stride with Brees. If Jared Cook is healthy, this No. 10 ranking is just the right fit.
dark. Next. Top 30 players in New Orleans Saints’ history
Cook’s average rank among our 12 writers was 10.4.