Brandin Cooks has one free-agency wish after Bills stint

Free-agent wide receiver Brandin Cooks is coming off a cup-of-coffee stint with the Buffalo Bills after he appeared in seven total games with the Bills from late November 2025 through the playoffs. 

During a recent chat with Tim Graham of The Athletic, Cooks made it clear when he'd like to have an NFL home and where he would like that home to be located. 

Brandin Cooks would "love" to return to Buffalo

"Obviously, Buffalo is the place I’d love to be," Cooks admitted. "I want to prove that to them and have a full offseason with them. Both sides are figuring things out. We’ll see, but hopefully something transpires because I love going to training camp. That’s where you build that callus." 

The NFL's website shows that veteran Bills players are due to report to training camp on July 28, so there's still time for Cooks to receive his desired deal before summer workouts get underway. One may assume that Buffalo would have already re-signed Cooks if the club were interested in extending the working relationship. 

That said, stories shared throughout the spring and summer have linked the Bills with available pass-catchers. Additionally, Cooks' "both sides are figuring things out" line could indicate Buffalo hasn't completely slammed the door shut on a possible reunion. 

Across five regular-season games with the 2025 Bills, Cooks recorded five receptions for 114 yards. He then tallied five catches for 78 yards over two playoff contests. 

Brandin Cooks: "Who wouldn’t want to play with Josh Allen?"

"I chose Buffalo because of the belief in (quarterback) Josh Allen," Cooks said about signing with the Bills this past November. "...In my mind, 'OK, this was an opportunity where you got guys that can play, but also there’s a niche in there where, if I can come in and do what I have to do, I’m contributing.' It was the totality of things, but who wouldn’t want to play with Josh Allen?"

One would think that Cooks will eventually end up with the Bills if Allen feels similarly about the veteran. Cooks, who will turn 33 years old this coming September, told Graham that he understands "the game is the game." Thus, it's fair to wonder if Cooks won't wait beyond the start of training camps to sign with a different team if he receives an offer.