Brandin Cooks Returns to Saints After Two Seasons with Cowboys

NEW ORLEANS — Veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks is set to reunite with the New Orleans Saints after agreeing to a two-year contract worth $13 million on Friday.

Cooks, who spent the 2024 season with the Dallas Cowboys, has a storied NFL career that began in New Orleans where he was drafted 20th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. During his time in Dallas, he caught 26 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games in a challenging season, marred by injury and offensive struggles.

In his two years with the Cowboys, Cooks registered 80 receptions for 916 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, injuries limited his performance last season after an infection developed from a knee injection, leading to his early exit from the field. Despite these challenges, Cooks is eager to prove himself with the Saints, where he enjoyed significant success early in his career.

“I’m excited to come back to where it all began for me,” Cooks said in a statement. “I can’t wait to contribute to the team and help compete for a championship.”

Cooks’s first stint with the Saints included standout performances, marked by two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2015 and 2016. His contributions during these years helped establish him as one of the league’s top deep threats. However, after three seasons in New Orleans, he was traded to the New England Patriots in 2017.

Over the span of his career, Cooks has played for five different teams, showcasing his adaptability and skill. He has compiled impressive statistics, totaling 710 catches for 9,532 yards and 60 touchdowns across 11 seasons.

The Saints are hoping Cooks can provide a reliable option alongside fellow receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, both of whom struggled with injuries last season. This addition comes as New Orleans aims to enhance its passing game after the recent departure of another vertical threat.

Head Coach Kellen Moore expressed enthusiasm for Cooks’s return, stating, “Brandin brings a wealth of experience and deep playmaking ability that will greatly benefit our offense.”

As Cooks begins this new chapter with the Saints, expectations are high for his impact on the field, hoping to bring the same magic he had during his initial tenure with the club.