Brandin Cooks released in another Saints shakeup

The New Orleans Saints continue to clear out their receiver room. Just weeks after shipping Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks at the NFL trade deadline, the stumbling Saints have agreed to release veteran wideout Brandin Cooks from his contract, ESPN announced Wednesday. Cooks, 32, will hit free agency if he goes unclaimed on waivers.The former first-round pick signed a two-year, $13 million contract with New Orleans ahead of the 2025 season, returning to the team that drafted him after spending parts of his 12-year career with the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys. Cooks played 65 percent of snaps this season but struggled to make much of an impact.Across ten games, he registered just 19 catches on 25 targets for 165 yards — ranking fifth on the team.

He produced no touchdowns, failing to reach the end zone for the first season of his career.The journeyman was initially brought in to mentor Shaheed and Chris Olave, while serving as another target for Derek Carr.But plans got uprooted when Carr retired after a shoulder injury and Shaheed got dealt to Seattle. The Saints, in the thick of a miserable 2–8 season, part ways with the veteran as they set their sights on the future. Already testing out Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough under center, New Orleans could look to utilize some of the younger receivers on its roster like Ronnie Bell or Kevin Austin Jr.

from the practice squad, or perhaps Trey Palmer, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wideout who’s nearing a return from the IR.The Saints rode a victory over the Carolina Panthers into their Week 11 bye and look to build on the momentum against the Atlanta Falcons on Nov.23....