BREAKING: Saints Release Veteran WR Brandin Cooks

The New Orleans Saints and 32-year-old wide receiver Brandin Cooks have mutually agreed to part ways, in an agreement the two parties reached on Wednesday morning.

#Saints WR Brandin Cooks, who was a possible trade target before the deadline, had been released, sources say. The two sides agreed on this, and now heads to waivers. pic.twitter.com/rhu3tbnyVw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 19, 2025

Cooks, a 12-year veteran who has played for five different NFL teams, garnered some interest at the recent NFL trade deadline amidst the Saints’ lost season.

While Cooks didn’t move then, the wide receiver will first hit waivers and then potentially free agency, and may still have something left in the tank for a contender down the stretch.

Cooks has appeared in all ten games for New Orleans this season, catching 19 passes for 165 yards. While Cooks has yet to find the endzone in 2025-26, ten of his 19 catches resulted in first downs. This ten-game stint with the Saints represented a return to where Cooks began his career after being drafted by the Saints in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

While there are probably a few teams that make sense to bid for Cooks’ services, the Denver Broncos come to mind for me. Denver was linked to multiple wide receivers at the trade deadline, and while they ultimately didn’t make a move, could still benefit from more depth at the position.

If Cooks values playing for a contender, then teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, or San Francisco 49ers could all make sense as well, though the veteran may be reserved to a depth/reserve role on some of those rosters.

Cooks could also be claimed on waivers by any team on Thursday afternoon.

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