Brandin Cooks is an NFL veteran. Even if he is past his prime, he can still be a problem if given the right usage. When the Bills approached him, Cooks said, “The opportunity to be able to play with Josh is — I mean, you can’t pass up that opportunity. He’s a special player. All you do is hear about this organization from afar being a special place, and how they treat players. It’s all about ball. So I’m thankful to be here, for sure.”

Cooks will provide experience and production to a WR corp that desperately needs it. Not only do they not have a proper WR1, but the Bills are also trying to replace second-year wideout Keon Coleman, whose indiscipline might have marked the end of his Bills career.

Brandin Cooks has been perennially underrated

A 12-year vet, Cooks has never been regarded as one of the best wideouts in the league despite having six 1,000-yard seasons. His output in the Saints when he was in his rookie contract, the Rams and Texans made him one of the most underrated receivers in the NFL.

At 32 years old, it’s clear that Cooks might not be what he once was, but when you look at the Bills’ WR room, you can’t help but imagine that he could definitely be a factor when it comes to helping Josh Allen in the passing game.

The Bills can’t keep hoping for Josh Allen to make weekly miracles

Josh Allen is so great that he has the Bills’ passing offense as the ninth-best in the NFL. However, his 246.3 passing yards per game is his second-lowest number since 2020. To be fair, though, the lowest number in that span was 219.5 in 2024, and he was the MVP that season.

Still, no receiver on the Bills has reached 600 yards this season. While Cooks is not going to come in and deliver 1,000 yards, he can at least give some dynamic to the team to move the chains without Allen needing to turn into Superman every single week.

Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough are the leading candidates to earn the starting role heading into Week 1 for Kellen Moore’s team. However, the head coach has yet to make a definitive statement regarding who will ultimately be named the starter.

In recent comments to the media, Cooks spoke about the healthy competition among the quarterbacks currently on the roster, noting that it will be a strong internal battle for the team this offseason.

“Yeah, absolutely it should bring the best out of you,” Cooks told reporters, via the team website. “It’s fun seeing those guys compete. All three of them are having a great spring. So, it’s going to be fun to watch that competition.”

Rattler or Shough? Cooks weighs in

Derek Carr’s sudden decision to step away from professional football sparked a debate within the franchise about who should be his natural successor. With the idea of bringing in a veteran no longer on the table, the HC will now have to choose from the quarterbacks currently on the roster.

While, as of now, the leading candidates to start in Week 1 are Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough, Kellen Moore could also ultimately opt for Jake Haener — although his chances appear to be slimmer.

Brandin Cooks returned to the team that saw him begin his NFL career after stints with the Patriots, Rams, Texans, and Cowboys, and he didn’t shy away from the conversation about who might be throwing him the ball this upcoming season.

“They’re playing with a lot of confidence, both of those guys,” Cooks said of Shough and Rattler. “And you can see the competition going on. They can definitely sling it. So, I look forward to continuing to see that grow.”

In 2023, the Saints patiently waited for the Las Vegas Raiders to release Derek Carr. The NFC South club wanted to acquire a veteran quarterback, and Carr was the best option available in the market at the time.

While his first two seasons in New Orleans have not been great, the club expects him to step up in the 2025 campaign. For that reason, they have welcomed back a top-tier wide receiver to help him achieve success this year.

Saints re-sign their 2014 first-round pick to bolster Derek Carr’s offense

The Saints have not had great seasons since the retirement of Drew Brees in 2021. The legendary quarterback left a huge gap to fill in the NFC South club, but the team expects Derek Carr to be the solution to all of their problems.

Carr has not been able to take the Saints to the playoffs in the two years he has been with the club. Nevertheless, the front office expects him to achieve success this upcoming season, which is why they have re-signed a former player to help the quarterback in his quest.

Nick Underhill, insider of the Saints, reported on Friday that the club was signing Brandin Cooks for the 2025 season. The information was later confirmed by NFL Media via Tom Pelissero.

Cooks will return to the Saints after the club drafted him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft with the 20th overall pick. He spent three seasons in New Orleans before joining the Patriots in 2017. He has also played for the Rams, Texans, and most recently with the Cowboys.

The 31-year-old receiver has played 11 seasons in the NFL, with six campaigns of more than 1,000 receiving yards. He is expected to be the team’s WR2 behind Chris Olave.

Will the Saints sign another wide receiver this offseason?

The 2025 offseason is expected to have a lot of movement for the Saints. The NFC South club wants to achieve success with Derek Carr before his contract expires in 2027.

While Cooks’ arrival will be key to bolstering the offense, he is not the only addition expected for Derek Carr’s group. The club is set to bring another wideout this offseason, most likely in the 2025 NFL Draft.

As NFL free agency heats up with major moves, such as Davante Adams joining the Los Angeles Rams and Joey Bosa heading to the Buffalo Bills, the Cowboys could be weighing the possibility of bringing back a key contributor from last season.

Cowboys fans are eager to see high-profile acquisitions this offseason, and free agency presents the perfect opportunity for the front office to make impactful moves. One potential option is wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who spent the past two seasons with the team and could return for another campaign.

During an appearance on the Dallas Cowboys Podcast, Cooks shared details of a recent conversation with Will McClay, the team’s Vice President of Player Personnel. According to Cooks, a reunion remains on the table. “I talked with Will [McClay] the other day. That door’s not shut, absolutely not. I’ve got a lot of love for those guys in the locker room,” Cooks said.

Cooks discusses Prescott and the Cowboys’ new head coach

Cooks has been an essential weapon for the Cowboys over the past two seasons, contributing significantly both in plays and with the coaching staff. With Brian Schottenheimer stepping into the role of head coach after serving as the offensive coordinator, Cooks praised the transition, expressing optimism for the upcoming season.

“I think Shot [Brian Schottenheimer] is going to do a heck of a job putting his stamp on it,” Cooks said. He also spoke highly of Dak Prescott’s leadership, affirming his belief in the quarterback’s abilities. “Dak is still one of the top quarterbacks in this league, and they know how I feel about him,” Cooks added.

Cooks also touched on his future with the Cowboys as his free agency negotiations loom. “They know how I feel about the organization, and we’ll just see how it goes,” Cooks noted.

Cooks reflects on disappointing season with the Cowboys

Cooks opened up about the struggles he faced last year, including injuries that limited his playing time and the challenges the team encountered under head coach Mike McCarthy. The wide receiver reflected on how the season played out and what went wrong for the Cowboys.

“I look at last year, and it was very disappointing. You had the injuries, but from a bigger perspective, it felt like there were such high hopes, and we didn’t get it done. That kind of carried over into the next season, and finally, toward the end of the year, there was some urgency. But, as you know in this league, that’s too late,” Cooks admitted.

The 2024 NFL season has been an absolute nightmare for the Cowboys. Entering the campaign with high expectations, the NFC East team has failed to live up to them, making it seem like this year won’t be theirs either.

Many fans had anticipated a breakout season for Dak Prescott following his recent contract extension. However, the quarterback suffered a hamstring injury in Week 9 that has sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

Cowboys recover a crucial offensive player to support Cooper Rush

A few weeks ago, the Cowboys faced devastating news. Dak Prescott, their star franchise quarterback, sustained a hamstring injury in Week 9 against the Falcons, setting off alarms in Dallas.

While the initial prognosis suggested a four-week recovery, the injury proved more severe than anticipated. Prescott required surgery, effectively ending his 2024 season.

As a result, the Cowboys have turned to Cooper Rush as their starting quarterback. Though Rush has struggled this season, the team has now regained a key player who could make a difference in upcoming games.

The Dallas Cowboys announced that Brandin Cooks will return from the injured reserve list. The wide receiver had been sidelined since Week 4 due to a knee infection.

Cooks’ return is a significant boost for Cooper Rush. As the Cowboys’ WR3, the veteran wideout will add depth to a receiving corps that needs support to alleviate some of the pressure on CeeDee Lamb.

Are the Cowboys eliminated from playoff contention yet?

The Dallas Cowboys are in a precarious position. Without Dak Prescott, the team must deliver a near-perfect performance in the remaining regular season games to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Currently in third place in the NFC East with a 3-7 record, the Cowboys are not officially eliminated from playoff contention. However, they will need to win nearly all their remaining games to have a chance at securing a Wild Card spot.

Now, the problem looking to the future is a very crowded NFC East. ThePhiladelphia Eaglesjust got to the Super Bowl andJalen Hurtsis a star franchise quarterback. TheNew York Giantsare on a solid rebuilding process under Brian Daboll and, at least, Washingtonareshaking things up with the arrival ofEric Bieniemy.

Considering this scenario,Jerry Joneshas no time to lose to help Dak Prescott. That’s why, in an incredible turn of events, the Dallas Cowboys just made a blockbuster trade to improve their offense.

Brandin Cooks goes to the Dallas Cowboys in blockbuster trade

The Houston Texans traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Cowboys for a 2023 fifth-round pick and 2024 sixth-round pick. Now, Dallas have another threat to play alongside CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup. Dak Prescott should be delighted with the news.

Prior to the 2022 season, the Dallas Cowboys traded Amari Cooper to the Cleveland Browns and since that moment they hadn’t found a proper replacement at the wide receiver position. Brandin Cooks seems to be the upgrade Dallas needed to make a Super Bowl run.

Last year was very disappointing for Brandin Cooks with 699 receiving yards and only three touchdowns. The wide receiver wanted out of another rebuilding process in Houston and now gets the chance to play for a contender in the NFC such as the Dallas Cowboys.

Brandin Cooks is 29-years old and has played in his career for the New Orleans Saints, the New England Patriots, the Los Angeles Rams and the Houston Texans. After nine years in the NFL, Cooks has delivered six 1000-yard seasons.

This season in the NFL these WR’s will be very important to their teams, some are ready to continue to produce Pro Bowler seasons, others need to bounce back after a few years of disappointments. However you look at it these players are big investments fortheir teams.

Here are the NFL’s highest paid wide receivers for the 2021 NFL season, players from such teams like the Giants, Cardinals, Chargers, Cowboys, and NFL champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

15. Chris Godwin – $15.9 million

Chris Godwin had a big season for the Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers finishing the regular season at 65 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2021 Godwin has a franchise tag and will be key for the Bucs offense in 2021.

14. Adam Thielen – $16 million

Adam Thielen had his best overall season in 2020 with 14 touchdowns, the most since Randy Moss had 17 in 2000 (receiving touchdowns). Thielen is entering his eighth season with the Vikings, a franchise player Thielen will be key in the offense if he can reproduce his 2020 season.

13. Brandin Cooks – $16.2 million

Brandin Cooks’ $16.2 million salary may raise a few eyebrows, the journeyman wide receiver now with the Houston Texans had a disappointing first season, with 6 touchdowns. Cooks will need to produce more to earn that salary.

12. Robert Woods – $16.250 million

The versatile wide receiver is able to play make and go long to catch deep plays. Robert Woods is on a four-year deal with the Rams and with a little more help could be quite an impressive wide receiver. Woods is very underrated as his work rate is top notch.

11. Mike Evans – $16.5 million

Coming off of a big 2020 Mike Evans will be just as important for the champions as Tom Brady. Evans scored 13 touchdowns last season, his best output since 2016. Look for yet another 1,000 receiving yards season from Evans.

10. Tyler Lockett – $17.250 million

Tyler Lockett is a franchise player for the Seahawks, recently signing a four-year contract extension. In 2020 Lockett scored 10 touchdowns and ran over 1,000 receiving yards for Seattle.

9. Allen Robinson – $17.8 million

It’s been a disappointing last few years for Allen Robinson, gone are the numbers from 2015, and last season he ran over 1,000 yards and scored half the touchdowns of 2015 for Chicago. Robinson is on a high salary and has been the victim of some poor QB support.

8. Odell Beckham, Jr. -$18 million

Odell Beckham, Jr. is looking to bounce back after a rather uneventful 2020, playing only 7 games, the Browns wide receiver is ready for a comeback year. The question is can he stay healthy and recapture the level of play of past seasons.

7. Tyreek Hill – $18 million

Tyreek Hill is coming off of a career year with Kansas City, scoring 17 TDs and 87 receptions going well over 1,000 receiving yards. Hill is looking to make 2021 his year and at $18 million he is well worth his high salary.

6. Kenny Golladay – $18 million

The Giants Kenny Golladay comes to New York after four seasons with the Lions. Golladay was money in 2019, but before and after has been largely disappointing. Now in New York, the Giants showed they have faith in the 27-year-old, can he pay it back by finding his 2019 form?

5. Michael Thomas – $19.250 million

Michael Thomas has been a solid contributor for the Saints but had a 2020 to forget, injuries and punching C. J. Gardner-Johnson in practice were all she wrote last year for Thomas. He will need to rebound big time in 2021, but Thomas will be out for at least one third of the season due to injury.

4. Amari Cooper – $20 million

The 20-million-dollar man, Amari Cooper is one of the Cowboy’s main offensive pieces, in 2020 he finished the season with a career-high 92 receptions for 1,114 yards and five touchdowns. In 2021 Cooper is off to a fast start with 2 touchdowns after 1 game.

3. Keenan Allen – $20 million

Keenan Allen is a 4-time Pro Bowler and one of the Chargers main pieces of offense. Allen tied his best output with 8 touchdowns and 100 receptions in 2020. Allen is on a four-year deal with the Chargers and is ready to make 2021 his year.

2. Julio Jones – $22 million

The 32-year-old veteran still has spice in those legs as Julio Jones enters his eleventh season in the NFL. Last year Jones had an injury plagued season but still managed to score 3 touchdowns in 9 games. Jones will make a tough one-two punch with AJ Brown.

1. DeAndre Hopkins – $27.250 million

The highest paid WR in the NFL DeAndre Hopkins has some of the best hands in the NFL, the man is just a football magnet and can make some dazzling catches. Hopkins will hope to get more touchdowns but at the moment he is on top of the mountain in the NFL.