Adam Forsythe / March 26, 2019

After visiting with the New Orleans Saints on March 14, Jared Cook has officially signed with the team. The news broke on Tuesday, March 26, nearly two weeks later.

Cook was drafted in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Cook has played with four teams throughout his professional career with the most recent team being the Oakland Raiders. In his 10th and most recent season, Cook enjoyed the best year of his career so far. Cook hauled in 68 receptions for 896 yards and six touchdowns on his way to his first ever Pro Bowl Appearance.

Entering this offseason as a free agent, the Raiders did not elect to bring Cook back, allowing Cook to visit and negotiate with other teams. The Saints were one of Cook’s earliest suitors with the New England Patriots also showing interest. Cook visited with the Saints on March 14, but no official agreement was reached. This left Saints’ fans in a frenzy as many were wondering if the team was going to be able to sign the veteran tight end. Now that Cook has officially signed with the team, fans no longer need to worry.

Cook signed a two-year contract with the Saints worth $15.5 million, including $8 million fully guaranteed in the first year. At age 31, Cook will add a valuable, key piece to an already explosive offense. The Saints haven’t had a dominant tight end since they traded Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. Now with Cook on the team, the Saints will likely look to spend their second-round draft pick on another position.

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