Saints Release Veteran Receiver Brandin Cooks in Surprising Move

New Orleans, LA – The New Orleans Saints have decided to release veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks, according to a league source. This announcement comes as a surprise to many fans and players alike.

The 32-year-old Cooks was signed by the Saints hoping to gain not only a skilled player but also a mentor for younger teammates at the receiver position. However, his on-field performance did not align with expectations. In 10 games this season, Cooks caught just 19 passes for 165 yards, despite being on the field for 65% of the team’s offensive plays.

Before the trade deadline, there were rumors circulating that Cooks could be available for a trade. However, the Saints did not reach an agreement. The only change to their receiving corps was the trade of Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks for future draft picks.

“If it happens, it happens,” Cooks said after the trade deadline. “Obviously, it didn’t happen. For me, personally, I just know I can play at a high level. It’s been frustrating with the minimum opportunities, but all I know is to grind and work. Hopefully, I get more opportunities moving forward.”

Cooks was originally a first-round draft pick by the Saints in 2014. They traded him to the New England Patriots, which netted them two draft picks that turned into star players Ryan Ramczyk and Trey Hendrickson. Throughout a successful 12-year career with five different teams, Cooks has caught 729 passes for 9,697 yards.

Staff writer Matthew Paras contributed to this report.