(Photo by Bob Leverone/Associated Press)
By Ross Jackson
Eight years ago, wide receiver Brandon Cooks was traded by the New Orleans to the New England Patriots just three years into his NFL career. Two months ago, he returned to the Big Easy, and it’s clear that he’s excited about the potential of his second stint with the team.
Cooks spoke with members of the New Orleans media following the team’s first open OTA session.
“I mean, there’s a lot of speed,” Cooks said with a smile. “There’s a lot of space. And those guys, those big boys up front, even though we ain’t got pads on we definitely got a special unit up front to be able to protect the quarterback and be able to do what we want to do outside on the perimeter.”
Cooks is highlighting his own calling card here. Known for his world-class spend even 12 years into his career, it sounds like new head coach Kellen Moore’s offensive system will be a perfect match.
Before declining to go too much into detail on the scheme, he did mention that pace and space will be big factors in Moore’s offense. Both elements should complement he and fellow field stretchers Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave.
The room is full of speed at the top, which has drawn some concerns about the size the position group currently lacks. Its tallest players at the moment are 6-foot-2. While the NFL world believes the team should have a bigger bodied wide receiver, Cooks doesn’t necessarily feel the same way.
“Not at all,” he said when asked if there are concerns about current construction of receivers. “At the end of the day, wideout play is ‘Can you beat your guy in front of you?’ I think a lot of us can do that. There’s a lot of narrative of, ‘There’s not a tall, there’s not a big guy.’ But we all can separate, so it doesn’t matter.”
While having a contested catch receiver would be of benefit, Cooks is right. If the receivers are creating open throwing lanes for their young quarterback, the game simplifies. That will become key to their success in 2025, should a box-out type receiver not be added. Though run blocking in the perimeter would still be in question until the team sees the field.
This is an exciting return for Cooks, returning to the place that drafted him in the first round back in 2013. In particular, excitement of being back in front of Saints fans is part of what excites him most.
“I mean, you talking about the fans,” he said when asked about memories of playing in the Caesars Superdome. “That place is always rocking no matter the time of day. So, I definitely look forward to that.”
Cooks made many memories inside the Superdome in his early days, now he has the chance to make more in his return.
Brandin Cooks’ best TDs as a Saint 🙌
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— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 26, 2025
