Malcolm Butler Reportedly Could Be Traded by Patriots to Land Brandin Cooks

The New England Patriots are reportedly considering a deal that would send cornerback Malcolm Butler to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini.

Per ESPN's Chris Mortensen, the Saints want a quality defensive starter and draft picks over two years for Cooks.

Butler is a restricted free agent, and the Pats extended a first-round tender to him Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, which means a team would have to surrender a first-round pick to the Patriots in order to sign him.

As for Cooks, his name has popped up in trade rumors recently, and the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles emerged as potential suitors, per Mortensen.

According to Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune, the Pats offered New Orleans the No. 32 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft for Cooks but were turned down.

Rapoport noted the belief is Cooks will be traded by Thursday afternoon. 

Butler became more expendable Thursday after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported New England is set to sign former Buffalo Bills corner Stephon Gilmore to a five-year contract.

Still, cornerback Logan Ryan is a free agent for the Patriots, which means they'll need a replacement if both Butler and Ryan depart.

That said, the upside of acquiring the 23-year-old Cooks could be too great for New England to ignore if New Orleans is willing to move him for Butler.

Cooks is one of only three wide receivers in the NFL to top 1,100 receiving yards and score eight touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.

He is at his best out of the slot and could form a dynamic duo with Julian Edelman for quarterback Tom Brady.

Losing Cooks would be a major blow to New Orleans' top-ranked offense, but after finishing last against the pass defensively in 2016, the Saints need an upgrade in their secondary.

Butler was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015 and registered a career-high four interceptions last season.