Saints’ Jared Cook has nothing but praise for two rookie tight ends

Star tight end Jared Cook was a force for the Saints last season. Bringing in two more tight ends this offseason, he’s had no problem heaping praise on the rooks.

Did the Saints take two tight ends in the draft? Well, techinally no, but they’ve listed QB Tommy Stevens as one and may plan to play him there as they figure out what they’re dealing with the multi-dimensional talent.

As far as the other tight end, they definitely brought him in to the team’s future at the position. However, the Saints already have one of the best in the business running routes and blocking for them.

His name is Jared Cook, and he’s on the last season of his two-year contract Cook, who could be selfish and downplay his teammates and their success, looked to pick them up, speaking highly of both Tommy Stevens and third-round pick Adam Troutman.

Troutman, 6-foot-5 tight end from Dayton, is expected to slot in behind Cook and be a solid red zone threat.

With all three considered tight ends, it might be Josh Hill who is the odd man out unless the team opts to keep four tight ends. It’s either four tight ends or four quarterbacks if Hill and Stevens crack the roster.

That said, Cook caught nine touchdowns last season, the second-most amount tight ends. He knows a thing or two about being a great tight end and sees it in both rookies.

“He actually had a lot of improvement today. So hopefully, he continues to improve,” Cook said of Stevens per NOLA.com’s Amie Just.

He went a bit further on his description of Troutman.

“Adam is doing a great job….. He has good, strong hands, runs good routes So I’m excited. It’s been pretty cool to have him, a young guy that can come in and contribute this early so far in camp,” Cook said in a different story from Just.

Troutman is expected to have an impact alongside Cook in potential two tight end sets. Stevens is expected to be used more in a Taysom Hill-like role as Hill potentially moves into more of a true quarterback role.