Saints: 3 big-name receivers to trade for while Michael Thomas is out

Receivers New Orleans Saints Should Trade For – No. 2: Brandin Cooks

This won’t be a popular inclusion but the Saints really don’t have the right to be picky in these circumstances.

As we all know, Brandin Cooks previously played for New Orleans. He was their first-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and fans were feeling good about what the future had in store for Cooks in the Big Easy after he had a 1,000+ yard season in year two.

By year three, however, things were getting chippy between him and the Saints. He’d complain about lack of targets and it became clear that, even after a second consecutive 1,000+ yard season, that Cooks wasn’t long for New Orleans and he soon found his way onto the trade block.

Cooks landed with New England for the 2017 season and then spent 2018 and 2019 with the Rams before playing with the Texans in 2020. He’s turning 28 years old in September and has already played with four teams, which isn’t a good look.

Be that as it may, the Saints are desperate and they know how good of a receiver Cooks is. His current situation has him playing for the Texans, who could very well be the worst team in football this year. Trading Cooks not only saves Houston money, but it could get them draft picks as well, something they’re in desperation of.

Saints fans might not be ready to forgive Cooks and vice versa but a reunion could squash that beef pretty quickly. He’d probably rather be with the Saints, who should at least be competitive this year, than with the dumpster fire that is the Houston Texans.

This trade would give the Saints a reliable receiver for the next two seasons too, as Cooks is under contract through the end of the 2022 season. This helps them out not just this year, but next year as well. I don’t see a trade for Brandin Cooks happening but desperate times call for desperate measures.