Have the New Orleans Saints Already Won the Brandin Cooks Trade?

The New Orland Saints and New England Patriots have finalized their trade, with Brandin Cooks and the Saints fourth round pick headed to New England with the Saints receiving the Patriots’ first round pick (32nd overall) and their third round pick.

So essentially the Saints acquire the 32nd overall pick with the Saints moving up a few spots from the 4th round to the 3rd. There’s talk about this deal still not being over, with the Saints potentially looking to acquire Patriots CB Malcolm Butler, but as it stands now, the deal is over.

Over at Walter Football, they think the Saints “won” the trade, making out better than the Patriots, grading the Saints end of the deal with an A-minus and the Patriots getting “only” a B-plus.

I like the move for the Patriots, but I think the Saints are the winners of this deal. Cooks made it known that he didn't want to be on the roster anymore, and the Saints have two strong receivers without him in Michael Thomas and Willie Snead. New Orleans now has two first-round selections in a very deep draft, so they can use those picks to improve their woeful defense.

It’s interesting to note that their reader poll asked who “won” the trade, with the Patriots edging out the vote with 56%.

So what says you, you unbiased Saints fans? Did the Saints win their trade with the Patriots. What if the Saints end up flipping the 32nd pick for Malcolm Butler? Does that take a winning trade and make it worse? Or does it take a loser trade and turn it into a win? Tell us in the comments.