To no one’s surprise, the Los Angeles Rams weren’t done in with their pre-draft trade spree. While the Rams were attached to any trade talk with the New York Giants and Odell Beckham Jr., it’ll be Brandin Cooks that will step in as the team’s new deep threat after they completed a swap with the New England Patriots.
Patriots are trading WR Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick to LA Rams for the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and a sixth-round pick, league sources told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2018
Cooks is in the final year of his rookie deal and will be a free agent after next season. He’s due to make $8.459 million in 2018.
In exchange for Cooks, the Patriots get L.A.’s first round pick, No. 23, and a sixth rounder. The Rams will collect New England’s fourth round pick as part of the deal.
Cooks is actually a significant upgrade over departed Rams wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Both men were drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft, but Cooks has been healthier and outperformed Watkins every season. Last year he caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns in the Patriots’ Super Bowl run. It was his third consecutive 1,000-yard season and the third straight year he’d caught seven or more touchdowns. Watkins recently signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Pats got Brandin Cooks and a 4th last year from New Orleans. They gave up Cooks and a 4th this year.
If you cancel that part out, they moved up from No. 32 last year to No. 23 this year by giving up a 3rd in exchange for a 6th?
And they rented Cooks for a year.
Got it?
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 3, 2018
For the second season in a row, the Rams will be without a first round pick after a slew of trades in the early Sean McVay era and the last vestige of the Jeff Fisher trade that brought Jared Goff to the team. They’ll also be without a second round pick as they sent it to the Buffalo Bills in their trade for Watkins last season.
Los Angeles won’t make its first selection until the 87th pick in the draft in the third round.
The Rams were actively looking at ways to replace Sammy Watkins, and Brandin Cooks, on paper, represents an upgrade. Sean McVay's been eyeing Cooks for while — Source says Rams and Saints talked trade last year.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 3, 2018
As for the Patriots, they now have a slew of options with two first round picks, Nos 23 and 31, as well as two second rounders, Nos 43 and 63. If they do want to trade up to get into the quarterback sweepstakes, and it wouldn’t be a bad idea, they certainly have the ammunition now to do it.
