Eagles are ‘likely landing spot’ for Brandin Cooks

Based on rumors, the Titans and Eagles seem to be the most engaged.

The Eagles need a true No. 1 wideout to pair with Jordan Matthews, and they have been linked to nearly every major free-agent wide receiver, including Alshon Jeffery and Kenny Stills. Cooks ran a 4.33 40-yard dash coming out of Oregon State and has 37 career receptions of 20-plus yards over three seasons, including 13 of 40-plus yards. The Titans have two first round picks, so they have the ammo, but is Cooks worth a No. 5 or No. 18 overall pick?

The Titans could use a young, proven wideout to pair with Marcus Mariota. Several websites, including espn.com reported that the Eagles and Titans are two teams interesting in acquiring Cooks via trade.

It’s a bit surprising that Marvez believes a second could get Cooks, who was a first-round pick himself. Would pulling the trigger on a trade for Cooks be the right move for the Eagles? The Eagles nearly certainly will not part with their first-round pick, which will be either 14th or 15th overall, determined by a Friday coin flip.

Since the season has ended, the Eagles have been linked to any number of playmakers, whether it’s for a reunion (DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin) or something brand new (Alshon Jeffery, Kenny Stills). A few weeks ago they had a chance an early pick in the third round, which might have been enough to get it done, but they ended up getting the Rams comp pick at the end of the third round. A first-round pick is always an unknown, but Cooks isn’t. If the rumors are true, which Mortensen is usually spot on, then the Eagles need to go all in for him.

Titans GM Jon Robinson, who traded the top overall pick previous year, said the team is “open for business”. They traded tight end Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks in 2015 for center Max Unger and a first-round pick.

This scenario might not play out all the way until the NFL Draft, but the Saints sent a clear message to the rest of the league, “If you want Brandin Cooks, give us a call”. Exploring trade possibilities makes sense, especially given how much help the Saints need defensively. The Eagles are in the same position with quarterback Carson Wentz.