New Orleans Saints Release Former $80 Million Player

Despite his previous success, including helping the Philadelphia Eagles win the Super Bowl, Kellen Moore entered his first season as the New Orleans Saints‘ head coach without much of a chance. Through 11 weeks, it’s hard to say that the Saints haven’t met expectations as a team with a 2-8 record.

Now that they’ve basically been eliminated from playoff contention, it’s time for the Saints to shift gears into evaluation mode, in preparation for setting next year’s roster. That includes parting with aging veterans who don’t have a future in the Bayou.

According to New Orleans Football’s Nick Underhill, the Saints and Brandin Cooks have “mutually decided to part ways.” This means Cooks will go through the waiver system, where the teams with the worst record will have first dibs on signing him. If the remainder of Cooks’ contract goes unclaimed, he’ll become a free agent, where he can sign with any team he wants.

Cooks, 32, entered the league as the 20th overall pick by the Saints in the 2014 NFL Draft. He stuck around for three seasons before the team traded him to the Patriots in exchange for a first-round pick. He’s recorded six 1,000-yard seasons and even signed an $80 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.

Though, his last 1,000-yard season came in 2021, and he’s been limited to just 19 receptions for 165 yards this season. Still, another team, likely a contender, will appreciate having another speed threat like Cooks added into the mix. It likely won’t be long before he’s either claimed on waivers or finds a new team as a free agent.

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New Orleans Saints Release Former $80 Million Player

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