Wide receiver Brandin Cooks’ second stint with the New Orleans Saints ended Wednesday, multiple reports say, when the team placed him on waivers. Cooks appeared in every Saints game this season and started three, finishing with 19 catches for 165 yards. Because the move comes after the NFL trade deadline, he will be subject to the league waiver process and could join a new club on Thursday if claimed. The transaction closes a return to New Orleans that began earlier this season.
Key Takeaways
- Brandin Cooks was waived by the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday, according to multiple media reports.
- Cooks appeared in all Saints games this season and made three starts, recording 19 receptions for 165 yards.
- Any player released after the trade deadline must clear waivers; claims will be processed Thursday under NFL rules.
- Cooks originally entered the league as a first-round pick by the Saints in 2014 and played three seasons before being traded.
- After his first Saints stint he spent time with the Patriots and then two seasons with the Rams; he has also played for the Texans and Cowboys.
- If claimed, Cooks would provide a veteran receiving option for a contender or depth piece for a team facing injuries.
Background
Brandin Cooks entered the NFL as a first-round draft choice in 2014, selected by the New Orleans Saints. He spent three seasons with the franchise before being traded to the New England Patriots, then moved on to the Los Angeles Rams for two seasons and later had stints with the Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys. That career path established Cooks as a well-traveled veteran known for consistent production and speed downfield. The Saints re-acquired him this season, hoping his experience would add depth to their receiver corps.
Roster churn after the NFL trade deadline is common as teams balance injured lists, playoff pushes and salary-cap considerations. Waiving a veteran like Cooks reflects both the Saints’ assessment of their receiving depth and the timing constraints that turn midseason moves into waiver-subject transactions. Under current NFL procedures, players waived after the deadline are exposed to claims by other teams in inverse order of the standings, giving struggling teams earlier priority. That mechanism often results in players with Cooks’ résumé drawing quick claims if clubs view them as immediate upgrades.
Main Event
According to multiple outlets reporting Wednesday, New Orleans placed Cooks on waivers late in the week. The move follows his participation in every game to date this season, where he logged 19 catches for 165 yards and three starts. The team did not announce a detailed rationale in the initial reports, but late-season roster adjustments typically reflect a combination of needs at other positions, younger players earning reps, and cap or roster-window calculations.
Cooks’ immediate fate hinges on the waiver wire process scheduled for Thursday. If another club submits a claim, the Saints will lose Cooks’ rights and the claiming team will assume his contract. If he clears waivers, he would become an unrestricted free agent and could sign with any club, including potentially returning to the Saints under a new arrangement.
The transaction closes the short second chapter of Cooks’ time in New Orleans. Team sources cited in coverage noted that he provided veteran playbook familiarity and situational depth while he was on the roster. The Saints’ decision to place him on waivers suggests the coaching staff believes other options—either existing roster players or potential acquisitions—can meet their needs.
Analysis & Implications
For the Saints, this move reshapes the depth chart at wide receiver and signals a willingness to prioritize other roster needs late in the season. Cooks’ 19 catches and 165 yards are modest totals for a veteran receiver, but they still represent a reliable option for a team facing injuries or needing experienced targets in critical games. New Orleans must weigh the immediate upgrade potential from any incoming claim against the developmental opportunities for younger receivers on the roster.
For Cooks, the waiver process opens quick possibilities. Teams with midseason receiving shortfalls or those lacking veteran depth on playoff-bound rosters could view him as a low-risk addition with an ability to contribute on short notice. His prior experience with multiple franchises and familiarity with varied offensive systems increases his attractiveness as a plug-and-play option.
Leaguewide, the move exemplifies how veteran players can cycle through rosters late in the campaign. The waiver system tends to favor teams in need, and recent seasons have shown frequent claims for veteran receivers who can be inserted into passing games immediately. If claimed, Cooks would likely be evaluated as a role player rather than a primary target, with expectations centered on situational routes and special teams as necessary.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| 2023 season (with Saints) | Appeared in every game; 19 receptions, 165 yards; 3 starts |
| Drafted | 2014 NFL Draft, first round (Saints) |
| Career team path | Saints (initial stint), Patriots, Rams (two seasons), Texans, Cowboys, Saints (current stint) |
The table summarizes the facts reported about Cooks’ current season and career trajectory. His 2023 output with New Orleans—19 catches for 165 yards—represents the quantifiable production cited in reports; team-to-team movement over his career reflects the span of franchises listed by outlets. This modest statistical line helps explain why a team might choose to free a roster spot while still leaving open the possibility of a claim from a club seeking experience.
Reactions & Quotes
“All players let go after the trade deadline are subject to waivers, so Cooks will find himself with a new team on Thursday if someone claims him.”
ProFootballTalk / NBC Sports (report)
“Cooks appeared in every game for the Saints this season and started three of them. He had 19 catches for 165 yards.”
ProFootballTalk / NBC Sports (report)
“His journey—drafted in 2014 by the Saints and later playing for the Patriots, Rams, Texans and Cowboys—illustrates the veteran profile many teams consider for midseason additions.”
Reporting summary (media synthesis)
Unconfirmed
- Which team, if any, will submit a waiver claim for Brandin Cooks on Thursday remains unknown.
- The Saints’ internal rationale for the move — whether roster composition, performance evaluation, or salary considerations — has not been detailed publicly.
- Any short- or long-term plans for Cooks if he clears waivers (such as re-signing with New Orleans under a different contract) are currently unreported.
Bottom Line
Placing Brandin Cooks on waivers is a pragmatic roster decision by the New Orleans Saints that creates a quick opportunity for other NFL clubs to add a seasoned receiver. His 19 catches for 165 yards and presence in every game this season make him an attractive midseason pickup for teams needing experienced depth, but his modest role suggests any claiming team would view him as a situational contributor.
The waiver outcome will be decisive: a claim would immediately plug Cooks into another roster and assume his contract, while clearing waivers would leave him free to choose his next destination. For Saints observers, the move signals roster prioritization and may accelerate playing time for younger receivers; for Cooks, it represents another chapter in a nomadic, productive career that began in New Orleans in 2014.
Sources
- ProFootballTalk / NBC Sports (media report)
- NFL Football Operations — Transactions & Waiver Rules (official league guidance)