Saints release intriguing receiver the Bills could sign

The Bills still have a receiving problem, and another player who could be a missing piece of that puzzle is available.

Speedy veteran WR Brandin Cooks was released by the New Orleans Saints, who were sellers at this year's trade deadline and have been working in a mutual effort to free the receiver.

The 12-year veteran and difference-making playmaker has cleared waivers and is now free to sign with a contender.

It's been speculated and reported by analysts that teams like the Bills, Steelers, and Broncos could be landing spots. While it's being reported that the Broncos are "not in the mix" for Cooks, other contenders like the Rams and Patriots could be if another team doesn't act quickly to sign him.

Could the Bills be that team?

The 32-year-old was released by the Saints after being an oft-traded journeyman, albeit one with experience as a starter as well as with the playoffs and Super Bowl. Cooks was drafted by New Orleans in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft and played there for several years before stints with the New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Dallas Cowboys.

His lone year with New England in 2017 included a trip to Super Bowl LII, where they lost to the Eagles, and the following year made it to Super Bowl LIII with the Rams, losing to the Patriots. He then spent a few seasons with the Texans, where he had consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2020 and 2021, leading them in yards and receptions in 2022. He also has 60 TD catches and nearly 10,000 yards receiving to his name.

When Houston traded him to Dallas, he became tied with RB Eric Dickerson as the NFL's all-time most traded single player, and with WR Brandon Marshall as the only two players in NFL history to have 1,000-yard receiving seasons with four different teams.

Investing talent at the receiving position for QB Josh Allen in his prime window is important; the QB has struggled to find his open targets this season despite similar receiver percentages to last season when he won the NFL MVP award, and like last year, his receivers are not getting consistent separation.

While he had a historical game in a win against Tampa and finally gotJames Cook more involved as a receiver, the offense once again took a step back and struggled in last week's loss against Houston.

Buffalo failed in attempts to add a receiving threat at the trade deadline and has dealt with a rotating receiver-by-committee approach that hasn't worked. Second-year pro Keon Coleman is still developing, a process that is not helped by Joe Brady's offensive distribution strategy, and has been a healthy scratch the past two games. The team brought back Gabe Davis and signed Mecole Hardman in Week 11, with both adding some contribution, though the latter was lost in his first game to a calf injury.

Adding Cooks for the remainder of the season would add talent in the absence of Hardman with a similar profile. It would be a logical low cost-high reward move as he is versatile and can play in the slot, but also with plenty experience as an X receiver on the line of scrimmage on the opposite side of the tight end often as the primary deep threat, and as the Z receiver who lines up on the other side of the field from the X receiver, often off the line of scrimmage.

Allen's trying to force plays, and his receiver's inconsistency in getting open has caused him to hold the ball longer and turn it over, and the lack of downfield threat is hindering his big play potential as well as that of their overall offense. The team is facing an uphill battle to make the playoffs, and adding a veteran in Cooks as a second or third option in the passing game could help.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: NFL AFC Buffalo Bills Josh Allen Brandin Cooks New Orleans Saints