The New England Patriots have exercised their fifth-year option on WR Brandin Cooks, per ESPN’s Field Yates.
Source: the Patriots have exercised the 2018 5th-year option on WR Brandin Cooks.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 29, 2017
Cooks was the 20th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. The Patriots acquired Cooks for the 32nd overall pick and for a swap of third and fourth rounders.
The Patriots were always expected to pick up the fifth-year option, projected to cost $8.459 million in 2018, so this is just a report on the inevitable. The Patriots weren’t going to trade a first round pick for just one year of Cooks- and don’t be surprised if the two sides try to reach an extension at some point over the upcoming season.
The 5’10, 190 pound Cooks runs a blazing 4.33s 30 yard dash and has an extraordinary 3.81s shuttle, showing impossible speed and quickness. His is also younger than Patriots rising sophomore WR Malcolm Mitchell, despite having two additional seasons of NFL experience.
Cooks has averaged 1,136 yards and 8 touchdowns per 16-game season over his three-year career and the Patriots believe he can take his production to the next level. Picking up his fifth-year option was a mere formality.