Saints’ release of Brandin Cooks now official

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS, La. — At long last, the release of veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks is now official. The New Orleans Saints underwent a near-week long saga in an attempt to rework Cooks’ deal before sending him to waivers. 

The ordeal drew league attention and much speculation in the process of possible collusion.  The situation raised concern that the Saints and Cooks wouldn’t have been able to part ways. It seems those worries were either overblown or alleviated in such a way for the league to allow the move to go through. 

Cooks will now head to waivers with a chance to clear and sign with the team of his choosing should no team claim him first. 

The Saints and the veteran wide out mutually agreed to part ways coming back from the bye week. Cooks saw his lowest percentage of offensive snaps in the team’s Week 10 win at the Carolina Panthers. 

New Orleans will now have a wide receiver room of Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, Mason Tipton and Kevin Austin Jr. on the active roster with Ronnie Bell, Dante Pettis and the newly signed Jha’Quan Jackson in the practice squad. 

After Olave, the next-leading wideout in receiving yards is Vele with just 54.