Brandin Cooks Talks Saints Contract in NFL FA, Feels 'Incredible' Entering 12th Season

Veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks provided a positive outlook regarding his health ahead of the 2025 season Friday.

Cooks, who signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints in free agency, told reporters he feels "incredible" physically after missing seven games last season with the Dallas Cowboys due to a knee infection.

The 31-year-old Cooks set career lows last season in receptions (26) and receiving yardage (259), while scoring only three touchdowns, but he is hoping to bounce back in his 12th NFL campaign.

Cooks began his NFL career with the Saints when they took him 20th overall in the 2014 NFL draft out of Oregon State.

He spent three seasons in New Orleans and was highly productive, reeling in 215 catches for 2,861 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Despite that, Cooks expressed unhappiness with his role in the offense, which led to him getting traded to the New England Patriots. Cooks would spend one season in New England, two with the Los Angeles Rams, three with the Houston Texans and two with the Cowboys.

Although his first stint in New Orleans didn't end on the best terms, Cooks expressed happiness that the two sides were able to reunite, saying:

"I say this more so, just from a confidence level, not overconfident, but I believe what I bring to a team and I wasn't surprised that Saints and others wanted to sign me. [General manager] Mickey [Loomis] and I have got a lot of respect for one another ... It's just all part of it. ... I was young, I was a kid back then and I don't regret anything. I truly don't. I've left and had a lot of success. They had a lot of success and it's just great that you can point to an example where truly a bridge isn't burned because obviously if that was the case, they wouldn't be calling back and I wouldn't be going back."

The Saints have now missed the playoffs in four straight seasons, and they went just 5-12 last season, which was their worst record since 2005.

Injuries played a big role in their struggles, as quarterback Derek Carr and wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed all missed significant time.

Cooks, who has reached the 1,000-yard receiving mark six times in his career, gives New Orleans some insurance in case Olave and Shaheed have a hard time staying healthy again.

Carr received a huge vote of confidence from Cooks on Friday, as Cooks said he is "somebody I truly believe in."

There is no question that the Saints have a great deal of offensive talent between Carr, their receiving corps, tight end Juwan Johnson and running back Alvin Kamara, but they must find a way to mesh and stay healthy in order to reach their full potential.