The New Orleans Saints will have a different look in their wide receiver room coming out of their bye week.
The Saints and WR Brandin Cooks have agreed to part ways, according to reports, meaning the veteran will land on waivers with an opportunity to join a contender for the stretch run of the 2025 season.
Cooks, a first round pick of the Saints in 2014, inked a 2-year deal to return to the Saints early in the offseason, at which point the team was still planning to start the Kellen Moore era with a veteran quarterback behind center. That plan went awry with news of Derek Carr's shoulder injury and his ultimate retirement, with the team opting to lean on young QBs with Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough. The offense scuffled and the team fell to a 2-8 record prior to the bye week.
The 32-year-old WR was in a host of trade rumors leading up to the deadline, but it was Rashid Shaheed who was traded to the Seahawks for 4th- and 5th-round draft picks. Cooks had 19 catches on 25 targets for 165 yards through 10 games.
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The move leaves the Saints with only three active WRs and all on rookie deals in Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele and Rashid Shaheed. They could potentially sign one or more of veteran Dante Pettis, who has taken over punt return duties, Kevin Austin Jr. or Ronnie Bell from the practice squad. Another option could be Trey Palmer, who was claimed off waivers from the Bucs late in the preseason but who has spent the majority of the season on IR after battling hamstring and ankle injuries early in the year. The Saints also swung a trade for second-year WR Ja'Lynn Polk, but he is out for the year due to a knee injury.
New Orleans returns from the bye in Week 12 with a game against the rival Falcons at the Caesars Superdome. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.