The New Orleans Saints needed to address the wide receiver position because their top two receivers missed over half of last season with injuries. Rashid Shaheed suffered a season-ending meniscus tear in Week 6, and Chris Olave missed the rest of the season after suffering his fourth documented concussion in Week 9. Finally, the Saints needed to add more receivers because their receiver depth outside Shaheed, Olave, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. is weak, inexperienced, and young.
Also Read: New Orleans Saints: Announced Devastating Injury News Regarding All-Pro Ahead of Week 7
New Orleans Saints reunite with familiar face, add former 1st-round pick
New Orleans Saints, Brandin Cooks
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Saints defeated the Cardinals 48-41. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Saints have signed Brandin Cooks to a contract. The deal is for two years and is worth $13 million. The former 20th overall pick from the 2014 NFL Draft returns to New Orleans after spending the last eight seasons with the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Dallas Cowboys.
Heβs back! The #Saints are signing Brandin Cooks, per The Insiders, as their first-round draft pick from 2014 returns.
Quick photoshop πππ pic.twitter.com/IynHAN2Eh6
β Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 21, 2025
He missed a large chunk of 2024 with an injury
Dallas Cowboys, Brandin Cooks
Jul 31, 2024; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (3) makes a catch during training camp at the River Ridge Playing Fields in Oxnard, California. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-USA TODAY Sports
Brandin Cooks underwent a knee procedure, an injection on his right knee, in New York after Week 4 to address his meniscus injury, which has bothered him since training camp. He then developed an infection in his knee after returning to Dallas, and he underwent another knee procedure as team doctors performed arthroscopic surgery to clean out the infection and fix his meniscus. As a result, the Cowboys placed him on injured reserve ahead of Week 5, missing the next seven games.
Also Read: Dallas Cowboys: Hoping to Have Veteran Offensive Weapon Back in the Lineup for Week 12
Cooks returned in Week 13 but had a disappointing year, posting career lows in receptions, targets, and yards, tying with 2014 for the fewest number of games played in a season. He caught 26 passes on 54 targets for 259 yards and three touchdowns in ten games and nine starts.
New Orleans Saints Chris Olave
Nov 26, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (12) catches a pass against the Atlanta Falcons in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Olave
Brandin Cooks
Rashid Shaheed
Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Bub Means
Mason Tipton
Kevin Austin Jr.
Dante Pettis
Velus Jones Jr.
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