Former first-rounder back with the team that drafted him in 2014

John DeShazier

Brandin Cooksdidn't burn the bridge, so reconstruction wasn't necessary when the unrestricted free agent receiver made his way back to New Orleans after an eight-year space spanning when the former first-round pick departed in 2016, to rejoining the franchise March 21 after agreeing to a two-year contract.

Cooks was the Saints' first-round pick in 2014 (No. 20 overall) and caught 215 passes for 2,861 yards and 20 touchdowns, with 121 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, in 42 games (31 starts) in New Orleans.

"You always keep the bridge there, you just never know, especially in my career," he said Monday. "Just some of the changes, you never count that out."

After Cooks was traded to the Patriots in 2017 in exchange for a first-round pick (which became offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk), he was traded to the Rams, where he signed a contract extension and played two seasons, then traded to the Texans where he spent 2020-22, then traded to the Cowboys where he played the 2023-24 seasons before becoming an unrestricted free agent for the first time.

Overall, he has totaled 710 catches for 9,532 yards and 60 touchdowns, with 58 rushes for 341 yards and two touchdowns.

"I'm just blessed to continue to play this game at a high level," Cooks said. "I never thought about, 'Man, I just hope I get to free agency one day.' At the end of the day I just want to play ball, and however I get there, it really didn't matter.

"It was fun for me. It was different. Usually you wake up after the season and you know where you're going to be, but to go through this process, it was a good learning process. It was a fun one and I'm just glad to get it over so I can focus on the task at hand, and that's playing football.

"I kind of took college the same way. I knew where I wanted to be talked to a few people, but I knew where my mind was at. So I guess you could say it's similar in that aspect."

Cooks, though, said he's a different player than the one from his first three seasons. He and Brandon Marshall are the only players in NFL history with a 1,000-yard receiving season with four franchises.

"I just think learning through how to approach the game," he said. "From my younger years to now, approaching the game is such a totally different aspect because, obviously, you know more you've got more knowledge, more wisdom.

"And then your process of just doing as best you can taking care of your body things that matter most, staying on the field. Being able to hopefully give some of that game, and then also on the field as well in how to play with one another."

Cooks, a native of Stockton, Calif., also will finally pair with Saints receivers coach Keith Williams.

"Keith actually is from Stockton, Calif., as well," Cooks said. "He more so knew my brothers but he's been recruiting me since I was 17 years old. He was at Fresno (State) 'Nah, Keith, I'm not going to Fresno and then got into the league and never really had the opportunity to work with each other during the season.

"I look forward to that because I really do believe he's the best receiver coach in the league, just doing what he's done with his guys."

Cooks also said he's looking forward to playing with quarterbackDerek Carr.

"Same (draft) class (2014), I've known Derek for a long time," Cooks said. "He can throw any ball. A tough cat and a great leader.

"You talk about a guy who does so much for his team, and off the field in the community. Another believer. Just a great human being but also a guy that can play at the highest level and has been doing that throughout his career."