Trade for speedy wideout Cooks marks new chapter for Patriots offense

Bill Belichick had been watching Brandin Cooks for a long time.

In each of the last two seasons, the New England Patriots and the New Orleans Saints held joint practices during training camp. So Belichick swinging a deal Friday, sending the No. 32 pick and a third- round selection in April’s draft to the Saints for the speedy wide receiver and a fourth- round pick, shouldn’t be a surprise.

In August 2016, the teams ran through a scrimmage on a sunscorched morning in Foxborough, Mass. Before the whistle blew, Belichick had high praise for the young standout. “Plus, they have Cooks,” Belichick said then, after he had listed some Saints weapons. “It doesn’t get much better than him.”

That was before Cooks plucked two back- shoulder throws off of cornerback Malcolm Butler in the scrimmage. One went for a huge gain, the other for a touchdown.

So now with Cooks, as well as former Indianapolis Colts tight end Dwayne Allen ( also acquired in a trade last week), the reigning Super Bowl champions get younger and faster, and their offense projects to be even better.

Better than the unit that dazed the Atlanta Falcons in the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history last month.

You know, the one that ranked third in the NFL in scoring ( 27.6 points per game) and fourth in total offense ( 386.2 yards per game) during the regular season.

Picture this: When Tom Brady breaks the huddle in Week 1, he should have a healthy Rob Gronkowski — one of the toughest matchups in the NFL — flanked just off the line of scrimmage. He’ll have Julian Edelman in the slot, Cooks on the outside and blossoming deep threat Chris Hogan on the other sideline. Versatile running back Dion Lewis will be in the backfield next to Brady.

That should be New England’s bread- and- butter offensive personnel package.

Cooks, who ran the 40- yard dash in 4.33 seconds three years ago, injects speed into the lineup. Like just about all of the Patriots’ pass- catching options, he can move around the formation and play inside, outside or even in the backfield.

But the Patriots also will have Allen, slot target Danny Amendola, young receiver Malcolm Mitchell and multipurpose back and Super Bowl LI hero James White to rotate in.

The personnel additions also give the Patriots, who love mixing and matching players in different formations to exploit opposing weaknesses, the flexibility to go to four- and five- receiver sets as well as two- tight- end looks and plays with multiple backs.

Tight end Martellus Bennett’s departure to the Green Bay Packers on Friday is one of the lone hits to the offense. He was instrumental in New England’s runblocking schemes, and Brady often relied on his hands to make big catches.

But Bennett just turned 30. Allen is 27, is under contract through the 2019 season and comes at a cheaper salary. And in 2014, Belichick said Allen was one of the best blocking tight ends the Patriots would see.

Cooks could be a Patriots star for years. Entering his fourth season at 23, he has caught 162 passes for 2,311 yards and 17 TDs over the last two years. Cooks is set to play out the final year of his rookie contract at an affordable rate, and New England has a fifthyear option it can exercise for the 2018 season that should be worth about $ 8 million.

Edelman posted a productive 2016 but will be 31 in May. Amendola is 31. Both are in the last year of their deals.

Cooks is the most dynamic pass- catching threat on New England’s roster. Pulling the trigger on this trade shows why the Patriots are unique in today’s NFL: They resist complacency and embrace change.

Fresh off a Super Bowl victory, they are uncovering value in free agency, bartering for talented and young castaways and — above all — improving. That stands in stark contrast to many top contenders that can be reluctant to tinker with a thriving roster. At this, there is no team in the NFL that is better.

Because of this, the Patriots are entrenching themselves as favorites to add to their trophy case in 2017 and potentially beyond.

MARK J. REBILAS, USA TODAY SPORTS Wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who had 162 catches for 2,311 yards and 17 touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Saints, adds speed to the Patriots’ formidable offense.