I guess this means the Los Angeles Rams aren’t landing Odell Beckham Jr. in a trade. Because they reportedly just landed Brandin Cooks in a trade with the New England Patriots in exchange for this year’s first-round pick (No. 23 overall) and a sixth-round pick, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Patriots are trading WR Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick to LA Rams for the 23rd overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft and a sixth-round pick, league sources told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2018
Rams acquiring Brandin Cooks means LA is out on Odell Beckham Jr., and the Giants will need another trade partner to make a deal for the mercurial WR.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2018
Cooks being traded to LA is surprising, especially since the Patriots just pulled off a trade with the New Orleans Saints to land him last year. However, this move does signal that New England won’t be trading Rob Gronkowski, as it had been rumored could happen.
New England trading Brandin Cooks to LA means that the Patriots will not be trading Rob Gronkowski this off-season, as some have speculated. Pats will rely on Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Rob Gronkowski, amongst others.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2018
Cooks caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns last season with the Patriots. However, he never really became the ultimate weapon Robert Kraft thought he landed, and now he’ll be moving on for the second time in as many years.
This move by Los Angeles is just one of many that signals the team is in win-now mode. The Rams will be a force this year, to be sure. If all the pieces work together, of course.