Bills confirm suspicion and pull off impactful roster move to finally make Josh Allen’s life easier down the stretch
Welcome to Buffalo, Brandin Cooks. Josh Allen and the offense get another weapon.
The Buffalo Bills aren’t done adding to their roster quite yet. Rumors were swirling of a potential addition in the wide receiver room, specifically that of former New Orleans Saints pass-catcher Brandin Cooks. The 60-career-touchdown man became a free agent after clearing waivers, and we previously mentioned that general manager Brandon Beane should pick up the phone and call.
Well, the fan base didn’t have to wait long, as hours after the report surfaced, the team made it official by signing Cooks to the active roster. The veteran gets a new home in Buffalo, and quarterback Josh Allen and the offense get another dynamic playmaker.
Despite not making a deal at the trade deadline for a receiver, Buffalo still got one of its guys in Cooks. He has appeared in 10 games for the New Orleans Saints in 2025 and was just recently released by the team. It’s been a busy few days in Buffalo, as the team also announced that defensive end Shaq Lawson would be joining the practice squad.
Cooks, a 12-year veteran, has played in more than 160 games for several teams, including the Saints, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Dallas Cowboys. Throughout his career, he’s totaled 729 receptions for 9,697 yards while adding 58 carries for 341 yards and two touchdowns.
A to Z staff writer weighs in on Cooks’ addition
New Orleans Saints expert and A to Z Sports writer for New Orleans, Adam Holt, broke down why the move makes sense for Buffalo, and what type of player it’s getting. Needless to say, the Bills Mafia should be excited about what Cooks could bring to the offense.
“Glad to see that Cooks landed with a potential contender in the AFC. As for his skillset translating to Buffalo, every team is looking to improve on third down, and I’m sure Joe Brady’s unit is no different. I think that’s where Cooks can provide the largest impact. A bulk of his meaningful, yet limited overall, production with the Saints usually came on third and medium.
“In a WR core with depth concerns, it wouldn’t shock me to see him lock in a nice role playing 30-40% snaps per game with the Bills. Expecting more than that is probably a bit too aggressive for his new team. Overall, makes a lot of sense for both sides here. Neither of them has anything to lose by giving this experienced veteran a shot to help them in any capacity.” – Adam Holt
The veteran is hoping to jump in and make an immediate difference in a receiver room that’s been changing faster than the weather in Buffalo in late December. From receiver Keon Coleman being benched in back-to-back games to the inability of some receivers to get open, it’s a low-risk, high-reward move by the organization.
If Cooks can bring even a fraction of the spark he’s provided throughout his career, the Bills may have found an answer to some of their offensive issues. With the playoff race tightening by the day, Buffalo needs every advantage it can get. Cooks’ arrival, with his experience and versatility, could make an immediate impact when the team needs it the most.
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