Saints Reportedly Attempted To Include ‘Poison Pill’ In WR’s Contract To Manipulate Waiver System — NFL Teams Furious Over Alleged Scheme

New Orleans, LA
The New Orleans Saints may have just walked into hot water with the NFL front office and potentially lit a fire under rival teams after a bold contract move involving veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

According to NFL Trade Rumors, citing Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Saints allegedly attempted to insert a controversial “poison pill” clause into Cooks’ revised contract before waiving him, sparking league-wide outrage and potential rule violations.

🧨 What Is the Poison Pill?

The “poison pill” was designed so that if Cooks cleared waivers, he would then be released outright, forfeiting the remainder of his 2025 salary, essentially nullifying any financial obligation the Saints would carry if no team picked him up. While clever, the move violates key NFL rules, which prohibit teams from creating artificial barriers that discourage other teams from claiming a waived player.

As a result, the Saints were forced to reverse course, reinstating the full $1.69 million guarantee in Cooks’ contract and setting a new deadline of November 26 to waive him cleanly without financial penalties.

⚖️ NFL Rule Breach? Other Teams Are Not Happy

Two specific NFL rules bar this type of manipulation, and if enforced, the punishment could be severe, including blocking the player from being waived at all for the remainder of the season.

Sources say the league suspects a wider conspiracy, potentially involving another team and Cooks’ agent, to get him to a preferred contender without passing through a competitive waiver process.

“There’s a story here some people want to disappear quickly. But contracts are public now, and teams smell blood,” one anonymous executive told Florio.

📉 Cooks' Declining Role Adds Fuel

Brandin Cooks, now 31 years old, has been part of six NFL teams throughout his career. Originally drafted in the first round by the Saints in 2014, he's since been traded to the Patriots, Rams, Texans, Cowboys, and rejoined the Saints in March 2025 on a 2-year, $13 million deal.

In the 2025 season, Cooks has been underwhelming, appearing in 10 games with only 19 catches for 165 yards and zero touchdowns, raising questions about whether his release was performance-based or strategic.

🔥 What Happens Next?

The situation has left rival front offices furious, with some reportedly demanding league intervention. If proven, the Saints could face disciplinary action or tighter scrutiny on future transactions. And as for Cooks? Rumors are swirling that he’s eyeing a specific playoff-bound team, possibly orchestrating his next move behind the scenes.