Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers were one of the teams that could have been interested in former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks, after he cleared waivers earlier this week. Instead, they might be playing against him.
Cooks, who cleared waivers on Monday, signed with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, the team announced. The Bills are coming to Pittsburgh for a Week 13 game against the Steelers this Sunday.
Cooks and the Saints had mutually agreed to go their different ways last Wednesday, but contract language slowed the process of the divorce. All teams had a 24-hour window to submit a claim on the former first-round draft pick, and all 31 teams declined, likely thanks to guaranteed salary in his contract in future years. Cooks signed a two-year, $13 million contract to return to the Saints this offseason.
The former No. 20 overall pick of the Saints in the 2014 NFL Draft, Cooks spent the first three years of his career in New Orleans and also played for the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans and Dallas Cowboys.
Cooks has posted 19 catches for 165 yards this season and was fifth on the Saints in targets, behind fellow receiver Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, tight end Juwan Johnson and running back Alvin Kamara, at the time of his release.
The Bills, like the Steelers, have struggled with production from the wide receiver position this season. Khalil Shakir leads Buffalo with 564 receiving yards and he is the only Buffalo wide receiver with more than 35 receptions. Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer, tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox and running back James Cook are the other primary targets for quarterback Josh Allen.
Brendan Howe contributed.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Bills Sign Away Potential Steelers WR Target, Could Play This Week
