Saints A Potential Suitor For OL D.J. Fluker
- When it comes to offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, the Saints, Lions, Seahawks, Colts, Vikings, Giants, Cardinals, and Falcons are among the potential teams to watch, according to Josina Anderson on Twitter.
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Sterling Moore Will Test Free Agency
- Although mutual interest exists between the Saints and Sterling Moore, the veteran cornerback is expected to reach free agency before possibly agreeing to a new deal with New Orleans, reports Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune (Twitter link). Moore, 27, ended up starting 12 games for the Saints in 2016 after signing a one-year, minimum salary benefit contract.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/6/17
Here are today’s ERFA decisions as teams make their final preparations for free agency.
- David Irving emerged as a viable pass-rusher for the Cowboys down the stretch last season, and the team will understandably extend an ERFA tender offer to the defensive end, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. He will make $615K in 2017.
- Two Panthers wide receivers, though, won’t be tendered and will thus become free agents. RFAs Philly Brown and Brenton Bersin will become UFAs, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports. Brown started 22 games for the Panthers and had a key role in Super Bowl 50. In three seasons, Brown caught 79 passes for 1,019 yards and seven touchdowns. Bersin also spent the past three seasons on Carolina’s roster but wasn’t utilized nearly as much.
- The Bears have re-signed ERFA tight end Daniel Brown to a one-year deal, the team announced. The team also tendered ERFAs Josh Bellamy, a wide receiver/special-teamer, and Bryce Callahan, a cornerback.
- The Saints plan to submit a tender to retain wide receiver Willie Snead, Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune writes. However, his camp is hoping New Orleans will pay him more than the one-year minimum salary. The 24-year-old Snead is an ERFA despite arriving in New Orleans in 2014. However, the standout target only has two accrued seasons since he spent his rookie year on the practice squad. In those, he’s combined for more than 1,800 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
- The Vikings have agreed to tender offensive lineman Zac Kerin at the one-year, $615K level, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes.
Titans Now In Lead For Brandin Cooks?
Identified early as one of the suitors in the sudden Brandin Cooks sweepstakes, the Titans may now be out in front of this derby. Tennessee remains in on the Cooks market and could well be leading it, Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com reports (on Twitter).
The Titans and Eagles became the first known suitors for the Saints’ No. 1 wide receiver last week, but New Orleans has received several offers for the fourth-year wideout. One of those appears to have come from the Patriots, who are believed to have included their No. 32 overall pick in a package for Cooks. The Saints are aiming for a “real significant” return for Cooks, he of back-to-back 1,100-yard seasons, and have received other offers that include second-round picks. Tennessee holds the Nos. 5 and 18 picks in the first round.
But the Titans have been interested in Cooks since this news broke. The agents for Cooks, Ryan and Bruce Tollner, also represent Marcus Mariota, potentially helping forge a connection to Tennessee. The team does not have a wideout of Cooks’ caliber currently on the roster and is set to see former first-rounder Kendall Wright depart via free agency. Although, Wright ceded his role as Tennessee’s No. 1 years ago. Rishard Matthews led the run-based Titans with 945 air yards last season.
Cooks has one more year, at $1.56MM, left on his rookie contract. But the Saints, or any team that acquires him, would pick up his fifth-year option that stands to be worth around $8.5MM for 2018.
Patriots Offer 32nd Pick For Brandin Cooks
Brandin Cooks has drawn a host of offers, but the Saints are aiming high if they’re to part with the 23-year-old wide receiver. Most notably, the Patriots have entered the equation. The defending Super Bowl champions offered their first-round pick (No. 32 overall) as part of a package for Cooks, NOLA.com’s Josh Katzenstein reports. But the reporter adds the Saints are targeting a mid-first-round selection for Cooks if they are to deal him.
Several other teams have made overtures to the Saints for Cooks, offering second-round picks for the fourth-year receiver, but the team is holding out. The Titans and Eagles are among the interested teams. Katzenstein notes at least five teams have contacted the Saints about Cooks. One of the unnamed franchises is hoping to give the Saints some defensive help to acquire the elusive wideout.
New Orleans is not operating as if it has to deal the wideout, though. He’s signed through 2017 and will be available on his rookie contract through ’18, provided the Saints or the team to which he’s traded predictably picks up his fifth-year option. Katzenstein notes Cooks’ agents could come into play in this deal. Ryan and Bruce Tollner represent the wideout. They are also the agents for Carson Wentz and Marcus Mariota, helping to explain the two initial suitors becoming known this week.
Bill Belichick offered praise for the then-second-year wideout in 2015, expressing relief his team doesn’t have to face Cooks annually.
The Eagles have had their eye on Cooks dating back to the 2014 draft, and Philly attempted to trade for him before the 2016 trade deadline. The Eagles hold the No. 14 pick in the first round after winning a Friday coin flip vs. the Colts, while the second of the Titans’ two first-rounders is the No. 18 pick. Those would fall within the realm of a mid-first-round selection. The Titans and Saints have already exchanged proposals regarding a potential deal, one that would have to be “real significant” if New Orleans is to part with its current top receiver.
The Saints now have both Willie Snead and Michael Thomas as emerging playmakers, with Thomas breaking out down the stretch of his rookie slate. But Cooks has compiled two 1,100-yard seasons and has scored 17 touchdowns in those campaigns. And he’s under contract in 2017 for just $1.56MM. A 2018 fifth-year option would stand to be worth around $8.5MM.
Obviously not averse to trading skill-position threats, the Saints have shipped out Darren Sproles, Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills in the past three years.
Saints Interested In Keeping Sterling Moore
- The Saints have expressed interest in bringing back Sterling Moore, Herbie Teope of NOLA.com reports. Moore said last month he was certain mutual interest existed between he and the Saints, and there now appears to be something to that. The 26-year-old corner helped stabilize a ravaged New Orleans cornerback group, one that lost Delvin Breaux for much of the season and P.J. Williams for nearly all of it. Moore played on a one-year deal in New Orleans last season after bouncing from the Patriots to the Cowboys to the Buccaneers between 2011-15. PFF tabbed Moore as the Saints’ top corner last season.
Eagles Attempted Cooks Trade At 2016 Deadline
The Eagles have been connected to Brandin Cooks for some time. Eyeing the eventual Saints wide receiver in 2014 draft, Philadelphia tried to trade for the speedster before the deadline last year, Jeff McLane of Philly.com reports. Both the Eagles and Titans have been connected to the fourth-year wideout, who will have two more years left on his rookie contract after his fifth-year option is picked up. The Eagles were also connected to 49ers wideout Torrey Smith prior to the 2016 trade deadline. They did not end up making a trade, but wide receiver looms at or near the top of Philly’s wish list going into the 2017 offseason.
Saints Want First-Round Pick For Cooks
Teams are calling on Brandin Cooks, but it will cost quite a bit to pry him away from the Saints. New Orleans wants a first-round pick in exchange for the explosive wide receiver, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
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On Thursday, we learned that the Titans and Eagles are both pursuing a Cooks deal. Reportedly, there are two scenarios floating around with regards to a potential Titans deal. One would have the Titans swap their No. 5 overall selection with the Saints’ No. 11 pick with one or two additional picks going to New Orleans. Alternatively, the Titans could send their No. 18 overall pick to the Saints in a simpler deal. Head coach Sean Payton said that it would take something “real significant” for the team to part ways with the 23-year-old (24 in September) and it doesn’t sound like he was kidding.
Cooks currently has a very team-friendly contract, but he will push for a hefty contract extension wherever he goes, Rapoport tweets. Cooks has a modest base salary of $1.56MM for 2017 with a fifth-year option worth $8.5MM for 2018. However, the wide receiver is going to want a deal that puts him near the top of his position.
On all fronts, acquiring Cooks would be costly for any interested team. Alshon Jeffery and Kenny Stills would also cost a ton, but teams won’t have to sacrifice a first-round choice for either player.
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Sean Payton On Potential Brandin Cooks Trade
Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks is drawing trade interest from multiple teams, but it would take something “real significant” for New Orleans to deal the 23-year-old, head coach Sean Payton told the team’s website (video link). Still, Payton didn’t deny that talks have taken place and he says the Saints are “always listening,” particularly when there are opportunities to improve their defense.
Saints To Wait On Vaccaro Extension
- Discussions about a potential extension for Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro aren’t expected until later this summer, Nick Underhill of The Advocate tweets.