Derek Carr almost walked. Before the Saints locked him down with a restructured deal. Well, the vet was at least open to exploring his options. Can you blame him? The offense struggled last season, and with a new play-caller in Kellen Moore, the direction was anything but certain. But Moore had one message for Carr: We’re building something for you. “We just talked about our confidence and the ability for him to have success here.”
So, to stay true to that success part: the Saints initiated Step 1… Getting him another weapon. Or rather, bringing one home.
Enter the $39 mil (per the current market) Brandin Cooks. The Saints are bringing back the speedy wideout nearly a decade after drafting him in 2014. New Orleans reporter Nick Underhill broke the news, and just like that, the Saints’ offense got a lot more dangerous.
Cooks slots into a receiver room that already boasts Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, plus Alvin Kamara out of the backfield. That’s some serious firepower. But is the 31-year-old still the deep threat he once was? That’s the big question Moore and the Saints are betting on.
Cooks’ career has been a journey, to say the least. After his first stint with the Saints, he bounced from New England to Los Angeles (Rams), then to Houston, and most recently, Dallas. His production has fluctuated—after a peak in 2021 (5.6 receptions per game), his numbers have dipped each year since, bottoming out at 2.6 catches per game last season with the Cowboys.
But before you write him off, remember this: Cooks can still fly if Derek can cook under center. So, you can bet on one thing that Moore will find ways to get him open on shot plays.
And this isn’t just some random reunion. There’s a little poetic symmetry here. Back in 2014, the Saints traded up to snag Cooks with the 20th overall pick, betting on his 4.33 speed and explosive playmaking. The move was meant to replace Lance Moore and Darren Sproles, and it worked—Cooks put up nearly 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in three seasons. Now, nearly ten years later, the Saints are hoping he’s got some of that old magic left.
Kellen Moore’s system should fit Cooks well. The offensive coordinator—known for stretching defenses and attacking vertically—didn’t overlap with Cooks in Dallas, but their paths nearly crossed. And let’s not forget, Moore turned CeeDee Lamb into a superstar and made guys like Michael Gallup and Jalen Guyton look like legit deep threats.
So what’s next? If Cooks still has his trademark burst, he’ll be a perfect complement to Olave and Shaheed. If not, well… the Saints could sigh that they didn’t spend $39 Ms on a nostalgia trip. Per Adam Schefter, the deal would be worth $13 million for two years. A Win-win? or a WOMP, WOMP? Anyone’s guess for now.
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