Saints Film Room: How Jared Cook will allow Sean Payton to re-expand the playbook

Saints mis-evaluated Fleener and his lack of toughness and durability, and suffered for it. Watson was better, but not a difference maker last year. (Arnold's TD drop in NFCCG was a killer). Cook can be the difference maker and the fill the critical need of more downfield pass-catching that was missing last year.

But, tight end is a physical position with run game blocking duties. Tight ends tend to get nicked up as the season progresses. So, the two goals with Cook are: (1) stay healthy to play, and (2) become the open guy down the open seam.

Here's a 2014 article touting Cook's blocking:

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2014/...ok-is-the-nfl-s-most-elite-blocking-tight-end
In terms of durability, Cook has been quite healthy the past 2 seasons, with a poor and spotty record of being available in many seasons before 2017.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CookJa02.htm