Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Brandin Cooks is being released by the New Orleans Saints, per insider Nick Underhill. The move comes less than one year after the veteran left the Cowboys and became a free agent.
Kellen Moore, the former Cowboys offensive coordinator and current Saints head coach, rarely used Cools as a primary target in his offense. New Orleans was bound to part ways with the receiver, but it’s shocking to see the move happen so quickly.
The cliff comes for every veteran receiver eventually. If this move is any indication, Dallas let Cooks leave at the right time.
Former Cowboys receiver Brandin Cooks released by Kellen Moore’s Saints
Once upon a time, Cooks was a star wideout. He’s posted multiple 1,000-yard seasons in his career, including back-to-back stellar years with the Houston Texans. Despite his high level of play, the receiver has been a journeyman in the NFL, bouncing from roster to roster.
After three years with the Saints (who drafted him in the first round back in 2016), he’s had stints with the Patriots, Rams, Texans, and Cowboys. In the late stages of his career, Cooks has served as a secondary receiver, opening up space for stars like CeeDee Lamb and Chris Olave.
The veteran was a somewhat disappointing addition for the Cowboys. After trading for him in 2023, Dallas was quickly ready to move on from the receiver. He played 26 games for the Cowboys, totaling just under 1,000 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. While he was a decent complement to Lamb’s skill set, it was clear by the end of his time in Dallas that Cooks was past his prime.
In New Orleans, Moore quickly found out what the Cowboys already knew. In 10 games this season, Cooks has had just 19 receptions for 165 yards. He’s failed to find the end zone and seems to have lost the speed down the field that made him so dangerous. The Saints primarily used him as a decoy, but they were clearly ready to move on from him.
Cooks will become a free agent after he clears waivers. There’s still a chance that a receiver-needy team looking to make a playoff push will add him to a roster. He’s not a top wideout anymore, but he may still be able to provide some depth to a team that needs it. If not, the former Cowboy’s career is likely over.