Saints Waive Veteran WR Brandin Cooks

The New Orleans Saints waived veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks on Wednesday, ending his second stint with the team in a mutual agreement that allows him to pursue opportunities elsewhere for the remainder of the 2025 season. The 32-year-old, who rejoined the Saints in March on a two-year contract worth up to $13 million, will enter the waiver process, and if unclaimed, he can sign with any team as a free agent.

Cooks' departure comes after a disappointing return to the franchise that drafted him in the first round out of Oregon State in 2014. In 10 games this season, he recorded 19 receptions for 165 yards on 25 targets, with no touchdowns and an average of 8.7 yards per catch, his lowest career mark. He started three games but ranked outside the team's top receiving options, overshadowed by younger players amid the Saints' shift toward a rebuild. The move followed reports that Cooks sought a trade or release as the team's plans evolved, and he reworked his contract to facilitate the separation, though exact financial details remain undisclosed.

This is Cooks' fifth team change in his NFL career, tying him with linebacker Kiko Alonso and Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson for the...