NFL News Brandin Cooks released (signed by Bills)

[BelizePats]

Lets bring Randy back!

 

[stinkypete]

I think I'm one of the younger posters here but I'm still old enough to remember Bethel Johnson as the #4 WR behind Branch/Givens/Brown scoring a 40 yard touchdown against TEN in the divisional round in a game we went on to win by only 3 points on our path to a championship. Even depth players can make a play that means the difference between winning and losing a playoff game.

Kyle Williams has been playing a lot since the Boutte injury but even before that he was getting 10-15 snaps each week and he's been very bad, consistently looking out of place and not in synch with the rest of the offense. We're 9-2 and going to be in the playoffs. It's very possible that one or two plays made/not made on those 10 snaps a game can be the difference for us. I'm not at all ready to give up on his career yet, but I don't feel at all comfortable putting him out there in big situations and IMO we're too good this year to be playing guys clearly not ready yet just for developmental purposes. It's one thing to prioritize playing young guys who might F up here and there but make their fair share of plays, but throwing guys out there who look clueless for be big regular season games and PLAYOFF games should be out of the question right now IMO. Not when you're this good. Let the guys not at all ready to play yet by this point have a redshirt year the rest of the way.

If they think Cooks can give them more than they're getting on those 10-15 snap a games, I say they should go for it. He has familiarity in the offense and his route tree/physical profile would seem to fit well for whatever it is they're trying to get Williams to do on the snaps he's out there. He'd probably even be a good mentor for him.

Bethel Johnson’s TD is exactly why you stick with Williams. Williams is much more likely to give you that play than Cooks.

 

[Real fan 02]

2024? Hell yeah
2025? nah, i'm good... we should bring him in, kick the tires, jic though

As purely a veteran presence at wr who's played at a high level for large majority of his career sure. Wouldn't mind if he signed.. he could be signed to the PS if anything.. he's no threat to unseat any of the guys currently in the rotation so.. sure, why not?

 

[bresna]

Cooks has to clear waivers to hit free agency. Although I think his 2026 contract kicks in if claimed, so i don't see that happening.

I doubt he asked to get released so he could sign to the Patriots practice squad.

 

[Triumph]

Lets Go Brandin.

 

[DC Patriots]

Not enough cap space for Cooks and a time machine back to 2021

 

[NovaScotiaPatsFan]

 

[PatsfanTN]

He’s cooked. Not really interested. Unless he can return kicks better than EFCIII?

Yeah, this is where I am. What’s the point and what hole does he fill? Unless he can return kicks and play ST

 

[Nehalem]

I believe Cooks is the only WR in NFL history to have 1000 yards receiving for 3 different teams in 3 years.

Even when he was good he wasn't that good.

 

[Brick27]

Would need a long term injury or two at WR to weigh that thought

 

[maust]

He asked for his release and it was granted, have to think he has a destination in mind. Just my 2¢

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Lets Go Brandin.

money and the power

 

[WazzuWheatfarmer]

A few years ago I’d have been in favor of signing him. Now I like our WR group and their chemistry. I say stick with what you got.

 

[Triumph]

money and the power

I heard he sheet his pants.

 

[signbabybrady]

 

[Brick27]

He asked for his release and it was granted, have to think he has a destination in mind. Just my 2¢

Given the recent news on the US penny, is that your 0 cents if rounding like we were taught or can we round up to 5 cents?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Cooks has to clear waivers to hit free agency. Although I think his 2026 contract kicks in if claimed, so i don't see that happening.

I doubt he asked to get released so he could sign to the Patriots practice squad.

A team that claims a player off waivers inherits the remainder of the player's contract, guarantees and all.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

I just looked at Cooks' contract. Any team that claims him takes on the remainder of his $1.26M salary fully guaranteed. That's just the minimum so not unreasonable. Next year he has a $5.94M salary, but only $1.69M is guaranteed (also $500K extra in per game bonuses to take on). Not a ton of guaranteed money but can't see anyone wanting to take on guaranteed salary for him next year and clearly he isn't worth keeping at that salary so it'd be useless dead money. Pretty confident he'll go unclaimed.

The laugh out loud funny thing though is that they have a frickin void year on that deal for 2027 so they could spread out his cap hit more for the $4.8M signing bonus they paid him. That front office needs to be stopped with the mismanagement lol

 

[TinhWoodhead]

Sign the Cooked beast!

 

[PatsFan2]

Buffalo might be interested though he's Cooked.