It was something of a surprise this week when, quite out of the blue, the New Orleans Saints announced they were cutting ties with veteran receiver Brandin Cooks, the former Patriots star who led the team’s wide receivers with 1,082 yards back in 2017, his only season with the team, and notched a 100-yard game in the Patriots‘ AFC championship win.
Cooks is 32, and was brought to the Saints to be a veteran leader and help develop either Spencer Rattler or Tyler Shough, one of the two young quarterbacks New Orleans has on hand. As the season pressed on, though, it was determined that the 2-8 Saints might be willing to let Cooks go chase a Super Bowl with a sure playoff team.
Eight years after helping the Patriots to the Super Bowl, Cooks is on the market, and New England, at 9-2, is a surprise contender. And there’s at least some cause to wonder if a reunion is in order.
Patriots Wide Receivers Have Been Very Good in 2025
The Patriots signing Cooks certainly appears to be a longshot. Fact is, the team has been happy with its wide-receiver room, which has seen Stefon Diggs take the reins as the WR1 but has also seen star turns from every pass-catcher on the roster. Mack Hollins, Pop Douglas and Kayshon Boutte have all had 100-yard games this season.
While rookie Kyle Williams has not had a consistent role, he does have a 72-yard touchdown catch to his credit. Adding a piece like Cooks would make sense only in an injury emergency–Boutte has been out with a hamstring injury, but he is slated to return.
Cooks has just 19 catches for 165 yards this season.
Brandin Cooks to the Patriots?
But, at CBS Sports, they’re floating the idea of a Cooks-Patriots reunion nonetheless. Other contenders–especially the Bills and Buccaneers–make much more sense, but a return to New England has some logic behind it, as the site wrote:
“New England’s offense is soaring thanks to Drake Maye making a huge leap and a vastly upgraded supporting cast led by Stefon Diggs. …
“But Boutte has battled a hamstring injury recently, and rookie Kyle Williams hasn’t quite made the early impact the Patriots may have hoped for with just three receptions. The Patriots have arrived earlier than expected, and perhaps a veteran option in the room could help down the stretch and into the postseason.”
Saints ‘Appreciate Everything’ About Brandin Cooks
As things stand, the Patriots would be far more likely to add some defensive help to the roster, if they’re going to look anywhere. The team is without Milton Williams for at least four games because of a high ankle sprain and a stint on the IR. Adding depth to the D is a bigger need than wide receiver.
Still, Cooks was a popular presence in his short time in New England, and has remained so in various stops throughout his NFL career. In letting go of Cooks, Saints coach Kellen Moore said:
“We’re gonna release Brandin Cooks. He asked to be released and obviously it took a few days to go through the process to make sure it worked for both parties. … He was awesome about it. This is a personal thing. He’s been great for us. He’s been great, the way he’s handled himself.
“The way he’s helped our team. Those are challenging things. But I appreciate everything He has done for us, and it’ll be good for the Saints moving forward. And Cooksie will have his plan moving forward as well.”
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