Brandin Cooks has something to prove with Buffalo Bills
Above all else, wide receiver Brandin Cooks came to Buffalo to win.
Practice ended Wednesday afternoon at One Bills Drive, but the Bills' offense was not done working.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady stood near Josh Allen as the quarterback prepared for a snap. Brandin Cooks, their newest receiver, lined up wide right. When a football got handed to the NFL's reigning MVP, Cooks ran down the field and cut toward the right sideline.
Cooks used both hands to haul in the accurate throw. Then, the 12-year veteran, who has caught passes from Drew Brees, Jared Goff and Tom Brady, ran back to the line to do it all over again.
Brandin Cooks totaled at least 1,000 receiving yards six times in his 12-year career.
Stephen Brashear, Associated Press
"You can’t pass up that opportunity," Cooks said of his decision to join the Bills' 53-man roster Tuesday. "He’s a special player. All you do is hear about this organization from afar, being a special place and how they treat players. It’s all about ball. I’m thankful to be here, for sure."
Relocating from New Orleans to Orchard Park was not easy. First, Cooks needed to get out of his contract with the Saints. Luckily, his bosses, most notably general manager Mickey Loomis, granted his wish. A few details needed to be ironed out, but Cooks boarded a private plane Tuesday to become another weapon for Allen.
It is a low-risk, high-reward bet by the Bills (7-4) ahead of their game Sunday against the Steelers (6-5) in Pittsburgh. Cooks turned 32 in September, and he has caught just 45 passes for 424 yards over his last 20 games. The Saints threw the ball to him just 25 times in 10 games, but it has been only two years since he totaled 657 receiving yards with 12.2 yards per reception and eight touchdowns for the Cowboys.
The Bills are counting on Brady to use Cooks properly. More routes that take advantage of his speed. The Saints weren't using Cooks properly. They funneled targets to their top receiver, Chris Olave, and prioritized Rashid Shaheed, who they eventually traded to Seattle. After Shaheed's departure, New Orleans decided to use the rest of the season to develop and evaluate younger receivers on the roster. There wasn't an opportunity for Cooks to contribute.
Defenses have been too comfortable putting a safety in the box against the Bills. Wide receiver Khalil Shakir is exceptional at turning a short catch into a long gain, but he is not used on deep passes. Tight end Dalton Kincaid may miss a third consecutive game with a hamstring injury. Joshua Palmer, the Bills' top offseason addition, is back on the injury report because of a bothersome ankle. At the very least, Cooks may be able to impact the way teams game plan and defend Buffalo's offense. His arrival led to the departure of Elijah Moore, a receiver who was not effective working through physicality at the line and could not block well enough.
"I think bringing a guy like him in and being a veteran presence for our room, he's come in here, he's already basically learned our playbook," Allen said of Cooks. "He's an extremely high football IQ guy. He's been around the league for a long time. The way that he carries himself, the way that is in meetings, already it's very apparent that he's a true professional.
"(To) come out here and practice the way he did says a lot about who he is as a person, as a player. And we appreciate him coming here and hopefully helping us out."
Another leader on offense can't hurt. Cooks can be an example to the rest of the receivers, most notably Keon Coleman, on the work ethic and attention to detail that s necessary to succeed in the NFL. Bills coach Sean McDermott would not commit to Coleman playing Sunday in Pittsburgh, but it is likely the second-year receiver will be back on the field. The rest of the game-day roster is uncertain. The Bills gave Cooks a roster spot over Gabe Davis, who has one practice-squad elevation remaining. Curtis Samuel, the top free agent Buffalo signed in 2024, is injured again.
Away from family to pursue a championship, Cooks stayed up late Tuesday night to study the Bills' offense. He is putting in extra time on the field with Allen and others on offense. Some may assume that he no longer has the speed and ability that he showed during six 1,000-yard seasons, but Cooks is determined to prove them wrong. He averaged at least 10 yards per reception for 11 consecutive seasons. Buffalo is Cooks' sixth NFL team and, twice, he was acquired for a first-round draft pick. He and Brandon Marshall are the only NFL receivers to have a 1,000-yard season with four different teams.
Cooks reached the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons, and the Rams threw the ball to him 13 times Super Bowl LIII. He didn't win either one, though. Above all else, Cooks came to Buffalo to win.
"Honestly, first and foremost, jump in here and be the best teammate I can possibly be," Cooks said. "You feel that around here. That’s what I’m about. Be a leader. At the end of the day, come out here and remind people around this league that I’m still a playmaker and that’s my expectation. Go out there and make plays. Be the best teammate I can possibly be and let the rest take care of itself."