New Orleans Saints: Jared Cook only a temporary solution

Signing Jared Cook adds some depth at tight end for the New Orleans Saints. However, it doesn’t address the problem for the future.

The New Orleans Saints have had a pretty lackluster 2019 offseason so far. While most players have stayed with the team, a few retired and others went to different teams. Unfortunately, there have also been a handful of arrests, too. There is one signing that has been questionable, though, and that’s the Saints inking tight end Jared Cook.

Of all the moves the Saints could make, this one is the most puzzling. Heading into the draft, it was assumed that the Saints would either go for a tight end or quarterback in the second round. If you remember, the team traded away their first-round pick last year to get Marcus Davenport. The addition of Cook only seems to complicate things and doesn’t really solve their problem long term.

Looking back at the last few years, the Saints have struggled to find an answer at tight end after losing Jimmy Graham. Graham was Drew Brees’ go-to target and the two were dynamic before he was traded to the Seahawks. It was a surprise for everyone, including Brees, who wasn’t happy and even posted on social media about it. Brees was right to be unhappy as the team is in a predicament now.

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After losing Graham, the team tried things with Coby Fleener. Fleener ultimately failed to live up to expectations and the team cut him two years after signing him. They also brought back Benjamin Watson as insurance, but Watson hung it up at the end of last year. The team also signed Josh Hill to a three-year deal, but Hill has also failed to live up to expectations.

Looking back on their history, signing Cook doesn’t make much sense. He’s with his third team in three years and was a good option for Derek Carr last year. Cook did have a decent season in 2018 with a career-high in receptions and yards. Looking at the options Carr had, there is a reason for that and Cook was one of the few veterans on the team.

While Brees fostered a good connection with Watson and Graham, he won’t have time to really forge a connection with Cook. Brees tends to target Michael Thomas or Alvin Kamara over any other pass-catchers, so it’s clear he has a preference. Watson finished the season with 35 receptions in 2018, half of what Kamara had and only slightly more than Tre’Quan Smith. Coming into a new system, Cook is already at a disadvantage — even more so if he doesn’t have good chemistry with Drew Brees.

Signing a veteran tight end doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Saints. Cook isn’t going to be utilized to his full potential in New Orleans. While he’s a good placeholder, that’s all he’s going to be. Simply put, Cook isn’t the answer at tight end. He might work for a season or two, but the Saints will be back to the drawing board. For now, he’s a temporary fix, but hopefully, they’ll draft a tight end when the time comes.

Even though it might be a questionable choice for the Saints, there is an upside. Cook could serve as a mentor to whoever they decide to draft. He might not be a permanent fix, but there’s no doubt he’s going to try to make the most of his time. Cook might even end up with a Super Bowl Ring, too. Overall, it will come down to if Cook and Brees can form a connection or whether the Saints draft a tight end.