Brandin Cooks was drafted with the 20th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He only spent three years with the organization, and despite being a solid producer, has hopped around the league over his 11-year career.
As a rookie, Cooks joined a Saints team that was led by Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Kenny Stills, Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham. It took him a few years to break out, but he finally did in 2016. That was the year New Orleans drafted Michael Thomas, and after the 2016 season, he was traded to the New England Patriots for a first-round pick.
Cooks has now played in the NFL for more than 10 years and has more than 9,000 career receiving yards and 60 touchdowns.
Here is everything to know about Cooks and his NFL career.
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How old is Brandin Cooks?
Cooks was born on Sept. 25, 1993. He is 32 years old, and if he plays in 2026 would turn 33 in the early part of the season. Cooks was the sixth-oldest wide receiver in the NFL in 2025.
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How many teams has Brandin Cooks played for?
Cooks has played for six NFL teams during his career. He started his career with the New Orleans Saints and played there for three seasons. Cooks returned to the Saints for part of the 2025 season, but was released on Nov. 19. He signed with the Buffalo Bills just six days later in a move that helped the veteran wide receiver make the 2026 playoffs.
Brandin Cooks career timeline
Here is a look at Cooks' career timeline.
- New Orleans Saints (2014-2016)
- New England Patriots (2017)
- Los Angeles Rams (2018-2019)
- Houston Texans (2020-2022)
- Dallas Cowboys (2023-2024)
- New Orleans Saints (2025)
- Buffalo Bills (2025-present)
When Cooks left the Saints, the first time, he was traded along with a fourth-round draft pick for first and third-round draft picks. New England picked up his fifth-year option, but traded him after one season with the franchise.
Cooks was then traded, along with a fourth-round pick, to the Rams for a first and sixth-round pick. Los Angeles then signed him to a five-year, $81 million extension that included $50.5 million guaranteed.
Two years into the contract, Cooks was traded once again, this time to the Houston Texans. He was traded, along with a fourth-round draft pick, for a second-round draft pick.
Cooks spent three seasons with the Texans, which tied his longest stint with a franchise. In 2022, the final year with the team, he signed a two-year extension with Houston, but in 2023, Cooks was traded to the Cowboys for a fifth and sixth-round pick.
He played out the end of his contract with Dallas. Cooks signed a two-year deal with New Orleans ahead of the 2025 regular season, but was released in mid-November. The veteran wide receiver then signed with the Bills a week later.