The Los Angeles Rams were finally able to land wide receiver Brandin Cooks in a trade with the New England Patriots on Tuesday. They apparently tried unsuccessfully to do so last season when he was still with the New Orleans Saints, Rams general manager Les Snead told Peter King of The MMQB.
The Rams reportedly offered cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who had been franchised for the second time by Los Angeles, for the speedy wideout. However, the Saints wanted a first-round pick for Cooks, and the Rams didn’t have theirs after losing it in the Jared Goff trade. That’s why the Saints ended up taking New England’s offer.
“At that time, we didn’t have a first-round pick and New England did, and that made all the difference,” Snead said. “We discussed [cornerback] Trumaine Johnson with New Orleans, but we could not trump New England’s one.”
After missing out on Cooks last year, the Rams wouldn't be denied this year. They finally had a first-round pick to offer for Cooks this time around, and the Patriots were all too happy to take it, especially with the wideout in the final year of his contract.
Cooks now gives the Rams offense a dimension they desperately need: a speedy deep threat that can take the top off opposing defenses. They thought they had that with Sammy Watkins, but it didn’t exactly work out for him in LA.
If Cooks can make an already formidable Rams offense even better and the rebuilt defense comes together as expected, the Rams should be able to make a serious run at the NFC Championship and maybe even the Super Bowl.
Follow Us
Subscribe