Earlier this week, the New England Patriots made a trade that surprised a lot of people. Bill Belichick and company agreed to deal to send wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams.
With Cooks leaving a big void to be filled in New England at wide receiver, the Patriots addressed the need for a wideout on Thursday. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the team is signing Jordan Matthews to a one-year deal.
Patriots are signing former Bills’ WR Jordan Matthews to a one-year deal, per source. Healthy now, so could be a real factor.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 6, 2018
In 2017, Cooks played 16 games for the Patriots catching 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns. He became one of Tom Brady's most reliable targets in the offense in New England and will likely have a similar impact with the Rams as a target for Jared Goff.
As for Matthews, the 25-year-old receiver played 10 games for the Buffalo Bills last season in which he hauled in 25 catches for 282 yards and one touchdown. Matthews was taken in the same draft class as Cooks back in 2014.
So, two days after trading one notable WR from the class of 2014, the Patriots sign another. Jordan Matthews becomes latest player to go from Buffalo to New England.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 6, 2018
Matthews has a solid first two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2014 and 2015. The Vanderbilt product hauled in 19 touchdowns during his stint with the Eagles and made a name for himself as a solid downfield target in the NFL.
Philadelphia traded Matthews to the Bills and a 2018 draft pick in exchange for cornerback Ronald Darby back in August. The trade was surprising, to say the least, considering Matthews' production when healthy.
It remains to be seen what the Patriots' plans are for the rest of the NFL offseason in terms of upgrading or adding to the receiving corps, but it'd be safe to say a healthy Matthews will play a sizable role in New England.
Follow Us
Subscribe