Saints Shock Fans with Unexpected Move Involving Veteran WR: What It Means for the Season

So here’s a twist nobody saw coming in the Big Easy this season—while rookie QB Tyler Shough is quietly carving a promising path on the field, the Saints have decided to part ways with veteran wideout Brandin Cooks. You gotta wonder: in a year earmarked for rebuilding, does cutting Cooks now spell a savvy move to accelerate the youth movement, or is it just another chapter in the journeyman receiver’s nomadic saga? Cooks, tantalizingly close to the 10,000-yard milestone, finds himself a free agent again, leaving us to ponder whether he can still inject some magic into a playoff contender. Meanwhile, Shough’s ascent raises questions about the future landscape of the Saints’ offense—can a fresh-faced quarterback thrive without his seasoned targets? It’s a bittersweet shuffle beneath the dome, a snapshot of a franchise straddling hope, transition, and the relentless ticking clock of NFL careers.

(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Saints went into this season knowing that it would be a rebuilding year, and that’s exactly what it’s been. However, rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has looked good and won his first start in Week 10 against the Carolina Panthers.

Shough threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers in place of Spencer Rattler, and he’ll now face the Atlanta Falcons, who lost to Carolina in Week 11. Heading into this matchup, the Saints made a big roster decision with a veteran wide receiver.

“The Saints are parting ways with WR Brandin Cooks, per Nick Underhill. He will become a free agent,” Ari Meirov wrote on X.

The #Saints are parting ways with WR Brandin Cooks, per @nick_underhill. He will become a FA. pic.twitter.com/JZEoIrNzYc

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 19, 2025

Releasing Cooks now instead of finishing the season with New Orleans will give him a chance to sign with a playoff contender.

Cooks is about 300 yards shy of 10,000 for his NFL career, even though he has been out of the rotation in New Orleans with just 19 catches and 165 yards this season. Despite consistent production, he has played for five teams over his 12 seasons.

His second tenure in New Orleans ends after 10 games, and Shough will lose another weapon after the team traded Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks at the NFL deadline. The move will allow the Saints to further evaluate younger receivers Devaughn Vele and Mason Tipton to see if either can be a factor going forward.

This isn’t a surprising move, but it’s a shame Cooks’ reunion with the Saints didn’t turn out better. Perhaps he can provide a late-season boost to a contender elsewhere.

The post Saints Make Big Roster Decision With Veteran WR appeared first on The Cold Wire.