Patriots' Brandin Cooks: Fifth-year option picked up by Patriots

The Patriots exercised Cooks' fifth-year option Saturday, NFL.com's Conor Orr reports.

Analysis:

Cooks will be in New England through at least the end of the 2018 season with Saturday's announcement. He racked up 162 receptions for 2,311 yards in his final two seasons in New Orleans and chipped in 11 plays of 40 or more yards in that span. Cooks adds a vertical dimension to the Patriots' offense that they have not had in quite some time and if he's able to mesh with QB Tom Brady, he'll be one of the biggest bargains in the league in 2018.