Patriots’ Brandin Cooks could give Eagles’ secondary a headache

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. >> For the New England Patriots, their Super Bowl 51 win would seem to have served as plenty of evidence that there wasn’t much of a pressing need for them to improve, especially at the skill positions.

Had they believed that, perhaps they wouldn’t be here at Super Bowl 52.

The Patriots made big upgrades to the wide receiver position this off-season, sending their first and third-round picks in the upcoming draft to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for Brandin Cooks in March and then acquiring the speedy Phillip Dorsett in exchange for backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett just prior to the start of the season.

Cooks was in the team’s plans all along, but Dorsett’s addition came after Julian Edelman was lost for the year after suffering a devastating knee injury late in the preseason.

“I was shocked,” Dorsett, who was drafted in the first round by the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 said of the trade. “I didn’t really have a reaction, I went numb. I didn’t know what was going on. Obviously, I was glad to come here, but just being traded like that, I literally couldn’t explain my emotions.”

After two disappointing years in Indy, Dorsett says he feels “blessed” to have the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl, and it isn’t out of the realm of possibility that he could make an impact. Yes, he ended up with just 12 catches for 194 yards and no touchdowns during the regular season, but had a big 31-yard reception against the Jaguars during the AFC Championship Game.

“It’s a dream come true, I feel like every football player dreams of being in this game, and I’m here in my third year,” Dorsett said. “I’m blessed, this has been a great experience so far. You don’t know when you’ll be back. A lot of guys that have been here are fortunate to be back doing this, but you never know. It’s been amazing enjoying all the things that are going on. But at the end of the day, you’re here to play a football game. That’s all it is. It may be a big game, but it’s still football.”

As for Cooks, big things are expected on Sunday. After three seasons with the Saints, he came to New England and flourished, finishing with 65 catches for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season and served as Tom Brady’s top target at wideout.

This postseason, which marks his first in the NFL, he’s added another nine catches for 132 yards.

“I was excited (about the trade), because not only I was able to (still) play this game, but play it for a great organization like New England,” Cooks said. “I’m extremely thankful.”