Brandin Cooks might be gearing up for another chapter in his career, and if so, he stands on the brink of making NFL history.
The New Orleans receiver, now in his second spell with the team, is reportedly on the trade block ahead of the November 4 deadline. If a deal goes through, he would make history as the first player to be traded five times, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
At 32, Cooks has already been traded four times, sharing that unique distinction with only a couple of other players, namely linebacker Kiko Alonso and running back Eric Dickerson. Over his career, he’s suited up for the Saints twice, as well as for the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Dallas Cowboys.
This season, Cooks has recorded 14 receptions totaling 127 yards for the Saints, but the situation has been tumultuous following quarterback Derek Carr’s surprising retirement during the offseason.
With Spencer Rattler now at quarterback and first-year head coach Kellen Moore leading the team, the Saints head into their matchup with the Buccaneers sporting a dismal record of 1-6.
Given the current demand for wide receivers, a trade for Cooks could be quite logical.
He’s currently in the first year of a two-year, $13 million deal, which includes a signing bonus of $4.8 million and a base salary of $1.26 million.
Rapoport mentioned that a trade involving Cooks is “very likely.”
However, Cooks hasn’t had the strongest statistical showing as of late; he hasn’t caught a touchdown this year, and his production has been dwindling each season since 2020.
Interestingly, other Saints wideouts, such as Chris Olave and Rashid Shahid, could also be on the trading block.
More broadly, players like Jacobi Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders, Jaylen Waddle of the Miami Dolphins, and Romeo Doubs from the Green Bay Packers are also expected to be shopped around before the deadline.
Meanwhile, the Giants are reportedly in the market for wide receiver assistance after Malik Nabors’ season-ending injury, but after a tough loss to the Broncos that left them at 2-5, their options seem limited.
