Rams Complete Trade With Patriots For WR Brandin Cooks

On Tuesday evening, the Rams traded their first-round pick to the Patriots for WR Brandin Cooks.

Apr 04, 2018
Brandin Cooks before AFC Championship Game vs Jaguars.
Getty

Image via GettyJim Rogash

Brandin Cooks before AFC Championship Game vs Jaguars.
Getty

Image via GettyJim Rogash

The Rams have now completed a trade for Patriots WR Brandin Cooks a week after signing Ndamukong Suh to pair with Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald—which goes well with their other offseason acquisitions of Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib.

To acquire Cooks (who had totals of 65 receptions, 1,082 yards, and seven touchdowns last year), the Rams parted with their first and sixth-round 2018 draft picks. As you can see from this handy tweet, the transaction kept with Los Angeles' theme of just absolutely going for broke this upcoming season:

Brandin Cooks is in the last year of his contract. So is Aaron Donald. LaMarcus Joyner is on the franchise tag. Suh is on a one-year deal. Talib may no longer be worth his high salary. Gurley's and Peters' salaries skyrocket in 2019. Andrew Whitworth will turn 37 this year.

— Michael David Smith (@MichaelDavSmith) April 3, 2018

In addition to landing Cooks, L.A. was able to retrieve a fourth-round pick, which will help alleviate the sting of giving up the 23rd overall selection:

Rams receive:
WR Brandin Cooks
4th-round pick

Patriots receive:
1st-round pick
6th-round pick

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2018

NFL media got their takes off, too:

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

Patriots just got a higher first-round pick than they gave up last year, all while having Brandin Cooks for a year on a rookie deal. They own this league.

— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) April 3, 2018

Rams' new additions this offseason, so far: Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Brandin Cooks. Decent start.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) April 3, 2018

Step 1: Trade Brandin Cooks

Step 2: Trade for Odell Beckham

— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) April 3, 2018

By dealing Brandin Cooks, that suggests to me that the Patriots are confident that Rob Gronkowski is returning. You don't deal a 1,000-yard receiver if you think you're losing a 1,000-yard tight end.

— Mark Daniels (@ByMarkDaniels) April 3, 2018

WHY WOULD YOU TRADE BRANDIN COOKS?

So young, so fast, so good 😪 pic.twitter.com/jnaLgGGcXk

— Patriots Militia (@PatsMilitia) April 3, 2018

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

🙋‍♂️ I thought Brandin Cooks was good.

🤷‍♂️

— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) April 3, 2018

The #Patriots traded the No.32 pick last year for Brandin Cooks...got a 1,000-yard year our of him and moved him for the No.23 pick. BB is a wizard.

— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 3, 2018

Brandin Cooks is one of four players to record at least 3 seasons of 1,000 Rec Yds & 7 TD before his 25th birthday. pic.twitter.com/6iHO98CrCa

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 3, 2018

Also there's this guy, who always manages to find the real story that goes over the rest of our heads:

If Belichick does not replace Brandin Cooks with an equally dangerous deep threat, then I will again wonder out loud if he's trying to sabotage the Tom Brady he was forced to keep over his guy, Jimmy G.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 3, 2018

Brandin Cooks isn't quite Odell, but he brings none of Odell's baggage. He's worth the 23rd overall pick to a team that lost Sammy Watkins. He's better than Sammy Watkins. The Rams are now better than the Eagles.

— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 3, 2018
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