The release of Brandin Cooks hit a snag when the New Orleans Saints attempted to revise his contract in a way that would make teams less likely to claim him on waivers. That's against NFL rules, so the Saints had to revise it again. Even with new changes, Cooks cleared waivers and landed with the Buffalo Bills.
The decision to release Cooks felt sudden and overdue at the same time. He never fit the Saints timeline, but they didn't move him at the trade deadline. That felt like the end of the story until Cooks requested his release a week later.
The Saints obliged, and Cooks got his wish. It left a thin position group even thinner, but Cooks clearly felt it was time to go. Looking at how infrequently he was used, it's hard to fight that opinion.
Brandin Cooks chose the most predictable landing spot after the Saints released him
Cooks is 32 years old. He belongs with a championship contender, not a team in the NFL basement. That's the exact change Cooks got with his change of scenery. The Saints will be in contention for the first overall pick. The Bills have championships on the mind.
Buffalo has had its own concerns and shortcomings this year, but they also have Josh Allen. So while the Bills have been shaky at points, you never want to count them out in the AFC race. That's the type of team Cooks should have been on all along.
To be more specific, the Bills always felt like the most likely landing spot for the wide receiver from the moment his release was reported. Ironically, Cooks is the second Saints wide receiver the Bills have been connected to this season. Chris Olave was paired with the Bills. Olave would have been a bigger grab, but the reason for the connection is the same reason Cooks felt like a shoe in to be a Bill.
The Bills need speed, and that's been Cooks' specialty. He won't come in as the top dog in the receiving corps, but Cooks will fill a specific role for them. They, similarly, fill a role for Cooks as a championship contender.