By Ross Jackson
This offseason has been all about familiarity for the New Orleans Saints. The team has focused on either retaining outgoing players or bringing back players that have been in New Orleans in their playing past. The largest gap between stints now belongs to wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
Cooks was drafted by the Saints in 2014 as a first-round selection and traded to the New England Patriots three years later. The trade followed a season in 2016 wherein Cooks expressed frustration for his role in the offense that at one point looked to be diminishing.
Despite the way things ended in New Orleans, Cooks never closed the door on a return, evidenced by his new two-year agreement with the team eight years later.
“You just never know, right?” Cooks said about envisioning a return to the team. “Especially in my career, just some of the changes. You never count that out for sure.”
On the way things transpired, which led to his being traded away after the 2016 season, Cooks doesn’t regret a thing. Nor should he. Expressing frustration is part of what is a truly emotionally taxing and competitive sport. He went on following that season to capture four 1,000-yard receiving years with three different teams. Meanwhile, the Saints got a long-time starter at center in Max Unger and long-time starter at right guard, Ryan Ramczyk, in the exchange.
“I mean, it’s life in a good way,” Cooks said. “I think both sides have benefited from it tremendously. A lot of great players came through. I went and had success. The team has had success. No regrets. There’s a reason why I’m back here. You never burn a bridge.”
Full Circle Cooks ⚜️@BrandinCooks | #Saints pic.twitter.com/xDaDM0K7vr
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 24, 2025
In Cooks’ return, he may not be asked to hit the field and become a 1,000-yard receiver again. Instead, his role will likely expand to providing some veteran leadership to an otherwise young room. He’ll certainly still produce, but the guidance he’ll provide to wideouts like Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed will be valuable as well.
“I just think learning through how to approach the game,” Cooks said on the leadership he can provide to young receivers. “From my younger years to now approaching the game in such a totally different aspect. Because obviously you know more. You got more knowledge, you got more wisdom. And then just your process on doing as best as you can, taking care of your body, things that matter the most. Staying on the field.”
And don’t worry. Those looking to dust off their Cooks No. 10 jerseys this season should still get a chance to do so. He may be a veteran leader now, returning to the team for his age 32 season, but don’t expect Cooks to sit back. He’ll have a role in the offense, and he expects to produce. However, he says that everyone will have to wait until OTAs to figure out what that role looks like.
