Rams acquire Brandin Cooks, continue to win offseason

The Los Angeles Rams are really going all-in this offseason, and they’ve now acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

After winning the NFC West last season, the Los Angeles Rams have made multiple big moves this offseason. But they’re not done, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting they’ve acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick from the New England Patriots for a first-round pick and a sixth-round pick.

This is the second straight offseason Cooks has been traded, as the Patriots acquired him from the New Orleans Saints in March of 2017. He delivered a solid campaign for the Patriots, with 65 receptions for 1,082 yards (a career-best 16.6 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns. He’s due $8.5 million on a club option for 2018, the final year of his contract, which the Rams will surely pick up.

The Rams were rumored as the most prominent trade suitor for New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., but that’s surely done now. Rumors surrounding the Patriots possible trading tight end Rob Gronkowski have surfaced too, but that talk is done as well.

The Patriots now have the 23rd and 31st picks in the first round of the draft later this month, and a void to fill at wide receiver now that they’ve dealt Cooks. Who knows what Bill Belichick has up his sleeve, but the options have multiplied.

Talks with the Giants about Beckham appear to have not gone very far, and Rams’ general manager Les Snead pivoted quickly to the Patriots. But according to Schefter, Los Angeles’ nterest in Cooks pre-dates their interest in Beckham and the latter may have been an attempt to exercise some leverage.

Next: 5 potential trade destinations for Rob Gronkowski

Cooks has a similar skill set to Sammy Watkins, who the Rams let leave in free agency, but he’s been a more productive player. So the Rams continue to win the offseason, as much as building up a roster on paper will matter come September.