New Orleans Saints: Will Brandin Cooks ever return to New Orleans?

For the second time in his short career, Brandin Cooks has been traded. With his long-term future still up in the air, could he come back to the New Orleans Saints?

Many questioned the New Orleans Saints for trading Brandin Cooks. Surprisingly, the trade was successful for both the Saints and the New England Patriots. Apparently, it wasn’t successful enough for New England, though, as the Patriots traded Cooks this offseason.

With Cooks now on the Los Angeles Rams, will he eventually come back to New Orleans? There’s a lot to unpack with that question. As for Cooks, there’s no reason for him to be traded. He has been constantly productive and was able to adapt. That’s the biggest headscratcher, looking at him.

In New Orleans and New England, Cooks was a top-notch performer. He was arguably the best receiver on both teams. He had great chemistry with both quarterbacks, fit into their offensive schemes and helped anchor the offense.

Considering how much the Patriots have lost this offseason, trading Cooks doesn’t make sense. I’m sure it will make sense in Bill Belichick’s mind, but on paper, it’s unwise. They’ve lost a lot of their impact players and keeping Cooks was a must.

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After those two trades, it’s unclear if Cooks will stay in Los Angeles. No doubt he’ll be able to fit seamlessly into their offense and work with Jared Goff. With the two blockbuster trades already surrounding him though, the Rams could eventually send him back to New Orleans.

Obviously, nothing is concrete until the season begins. With how many moves the Rams made this offseason, I wouldn’t be surprised. Next season, they might want to draft another receiver or add someone else on defense, leaving Cooks as a glamorous option. Depending on how he fares, the team could end up releasing him.

Heading back to New Orleans will be a tough transition. The team has changed so much since Cooks has been there. One saving grace is the team doesn’t have an established hierarchy of receivers. Right now, Michael Thomas is their main with a carousel of others behind him.

Getting Cooks back would eliminate their receiver problem and add some depth on offense. After Willie Snead’s down season, the team needs a break. They need someone who knows their offense and can make an impact immediately. Jimmy Graham would have been a viable substitute, but he signed with Green Bay.

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Ultimately, the choice is up to Cooks and the Rams. Cooks could stay with the Rams for the rest of his career. He might flourish in their offense and that’s great. Maybe the Rams were always where he was supposed to end up.

Cooks might never return to New Orleans, but there’s still a possibility. He’s stayed in the Big Easy the longest so a return might eventually happen. Considering he’s been traded twice though, it leaves the door open.

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