New Orleans Parts Ways With Veteran WR Brandin Cooks After Contract Saga
NEW ORLEANS, La. — After a week marked by uncertainty, scrutiny, and mounting speculation, the New Orleans Saints have officially released veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
The move—now finalized—ends a tense stretch in which the organization attempted to rework the veteran’s contract before ultimately placing him on waivers.
The situation drew league-wide attention, fueled by questions about whether the Saints could legally and logistically execute the separation. Concerns of potential collusion surfaced when the team repeatedly delayed finalizing the transaction, prompting worry that the league might intervene or even halt the release.
In the end, whatever complications existed were resolved quietly behind the scenes, and Cooks is free to be claimed by another team.
Cooks now enters the waiver system, where teams will have an opportunity to submit a claim. Should he go unclaimed, he’ll be free to sign with any franchise—an outcome many around the league expect, given his versatility and experience.
At 31, Cooks remains one of the NFL’s more reliable deep threats, though his role in New Orleans diminished significantly this season.
The Saints and Cooks reached a mutual agreement to part ways coming out of the team’s Week 11 bye. The decision likely stemmed from Cooks’ shrinking involvement in the offense. In Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers, he logged his lowest offensive snap share of the season, an unmistakable sign that his role had faded behind younger players in the rotation.
With Cooks’ departure, New Orleans’ wide receiver room suddenly looks both thin and unproven. Chris Olave, the clear No. 1 option, stands atop a depth chart now followed by Devaughn Vele, Mason Tipton, and Kevin Austin Jr. on the active roster. The practice squad features Ronnie Bell, Dante Pettis, and newly added rookie Jha’Quan Jackson.
The numbers reflect the depth concerns: after Olave’s production, Vele is the next-leading receiver in the group with just 54 yards on the season. That lack of established output places additional pressure on the coaching staff to develop the remaining receivers quickly—or to consider external reinforcements.
For the Saints, the timing of this roster shake-up is delicate. At a juncture in the season when playoff positioning is increasingly in focus, losing a veteran presence like Cooks could prove costly. Yet internally, the move signals a commitment to restructuring the offense and shifting opportunities toward emerging talent.
For Cooks, who has now played for several teams across his NFL career, the next chapter is unwritten. Contending teams in need of a reliable slot option or explosive vertical threat will undoubtedly monitor his waiver status closely.
As the Saints move forward and Cooks begins his search for a new home, both sides hope the split leads to fresher, more productive starts.