ESPN/M Triplett

METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints should have only three or four new starters this year. But newcomers such as receiver Emmanuel Sanders, safety Malcolm Jenkins, center Cesar Ruiz and linebacker Zack Baun aren’t the only potential “upgrades.”

The Saints have especially high hopes for tight end Jared Cook and corner back Janoris Jenkins now that those veterans are heading into their second seasons in New Orleans.

Cook flashed his potential throughout the second half of last season once he and quarterback Drew Brees were finally both healthy and in sync.

Jenkins, meanwhile, didn’t arrive in New Orleans until he was claimed off waivers in December — but the Saints saw enough to sign him to a two-year extension while letting former starter Eli Apple leave in free agency.

Tight ends coach Dan Campbell was effusive in his praise for the 33-year-old Cook, calling him a “match up nightmare for a defense.”

“If you want to try to take away [wide receiver] Mike Thomas and you’re gonna leave somebody one-on-one with Jared Cook, then you’ve got a problem,” Campbell said. “We’re gonna hurt you if that’s what you want to do. If you want to single Jared Cook, there’s nobody in this league that can cover him.

“Like, that’s the point, that’s the idea, and that’s the plan.”

Campbell acknowledged that it took Cook “a little bit to get going” last year — in part because of an unspecified injury that sidelined Cook toward the end of training camp, followed by a thumb injury that sidelined Brees in Weeks 3-7 and then an ankle injury that sidelined Cook in Weeks 7-8.

But over the final eight weeks, Cook ranked fourth among all NFL tight ends with 547 yards and tied for first with seven touchdowns on 28 catches, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. READ MORE

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