A year after acquiring him from the Saints, the Patriots shipped wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick to the Rams in exchange for first- and sixth-round picks. Let’s take a look at some of the reaction to and fallout from the blockbuster deal:
- Before trading him to Los Angeles, the Patriots engaged in extension talks with Cooks, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. However, those discussions stalled as the two sides were simply too far apart. Cooks is scheduled to earn $8.459MM in 2018 under the terms of his fifth-year option, but he’s likely looking for at least $14MM annually on a new deal. The Rams, for their part, have reportedly already expressed interest in extending Cooks’ contract, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets that Los Angeles is “intent” on doing so. Florio, however, indicates there is as of yet no timeline for a long-term pact to get done.
- The Rams and Patriots had discussed a possible Cooks trade for more than a month, well before Los Angeles ever contacted the Giants regarding fellow wideout Odell Beckham Jr., according to Schefter (Twitter link). Los Angeles preferred Cooks, and the price tag — New York is reportedly looking for at least two first-round picks in exchange for OBJ — likely played a role in that stance. Talks between the Patriots and Rams heated up on Monday when head coaches Bill Belichick and Sean McVay worked at the same coaching clinic, and those talks ultimately led to a trade on Tuesday, per Schefter (Twitter link).
- Los Angeles finally acquired Cooks on Tuesday after attempting to land him from the Saints last year, as Rams general manager Les Snead tells Peter King of TheMMQB.com. The Rams did not hold a first-round pick a season ago while the Patriots did, allowing New England to make the better offer for Cooks. Los Angeles, meanwhile, discussed a deal involving then-franchise-tagged cornerback Trumaine Johnson, but the talks never gained traction. For what it’s worth, the Rams actually tried to trade Johnson twice in 2017: once for Cooks, and once in exchange for a second-round pick, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
- The Patriots never viewed Cooks as a true No. 1 wide receiver, per Rapoport (Twitter link), and quarterback Tom Brady is “not sad” about the trade. While Cooks topped 1,000 yards receiving in his lone New England campaign, he wasn’t a perfect fit for the Patriots’ offense, says Rapoport. Theoretically, New England could shift back to a more horizontal offense based around incumbent receivers Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan now that Cooks is no longer in town.
- Although the Rams have now eschewed a hypothetical Beckham trade in favor of acquiring Cooks, the “frenzy” surrounding the mercurial Giants receiver doesn’t figure to subside, as Ralph Vacchiano of SNY writes. Still, a Beckham deal remains “highly unlikely,” as Los Angeles’ payment for Cooks doesn’t come anywhere close to what New York would want in exchange for Beckham.
To get a first round pick back for cooks that you gave up for him , that’s crazy good. IMO he’s not a true 1 wr but with Rams it fills a need. Don’t think I’d give up a first for him but both sides see and get value
Rams must really not have liked Watkins. Could’ve re-signed him for around the same price without giving up at 1st round pick.
Shocking that they didn’t really like the idea of paying $16 mil for a guy who caught 30 passes…
Watkins has been overrated since day 1. Can’t stay healthy. What good is a 16M WR that always has some type of injury?
To be fair to Watkins, he’s actually started more games than Cook (shocked the hell out of me) and has better yards/reception and TD rates, and he hasn’t had Drew Brees and Tom Brady throwing him the ball. Cook does have a much better catch rate, though, I mean MUCH better.
Which happened after the Rams traded for him… who’s to say same thing doesn’t happen to Cooks? Why extend him before even catching a pass from Goff. Goff throws a horrible deep ball.
lol
Cooks has been consistent at least.
Cooks might not be a number 1, but he’s a hell of a weapon. And If you get creative with him, he can give you number 1 production.
And lets not forget the Rams are back in a tough sports market where they have to compete against the Lakers and Dodgers for a piece of the fan dollar pie. They have taken on that challenge aggressively this off season with several high profile signings which indicates they have a front office smart enough to take in the big picture.
I never really got y he was supposed to be the next Moss for the pats (deep threat) he’s to short ya he’s fast but are qb is 40 with never really having a good deep toss
I personally believe Mathews is a better fit for that role if they so choose to go that route
I don’t think there is anything wrong w/ Brady’s deep ball. it’s always there when needed.
Cooks is overrated. Saints didn’t miss him. Pats get a first for a guy that I wouldn’t give up a 3rd to acquire. Pats ripped Rams off big time. Then again, Pats could have received 1,3,5 for Garrapolo and only got a high second from SF. It’s all even for the Pats now.
I disagree with all the Jimmy G revisionist history.
He had 6 quarters, an injury and half a season left when they traded him. Wether they could have gotten more at the deadline is just speculation. I gotta think they had an idea of his real value when they moved him. There’s been nothing but guessing what they “could” have gotten and that’s really completely worthless.
Who cares? Was a blah receiver in my eyes. Not a great fit. They made a good deal. Hopefully he does well there.