New England Patriots: Trading Brandin Cooks makes sense

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Brandin Cooks
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Brandin Cooks /
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The New England Patriots recently traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams. Does this move make sense?

With the NFL offseason rolling on, the New England Patriots made a surprising trade, as they sent wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a first-round pick.

This offseason, it has been no secret that the Rams were looking to add a wide receiver. After Sammy Watkins received a huge deal from the Kansas City Chiefs, the Rams needed to find his replacement.

For a while, the Rams were linked to Odell Beckham Jr, of the New York Giants. However, the Giants’ asking price was way too high. While the asking price for Cooks was also steep, the Rams apparently felt more comfortable giving up the assets for Cooks.

In his first and only season with New England, Cooks totaled 65 receptions, 1,082 receiving yards, and seven receiving touchdowns. This was Cooks’ third straight season as a 1,000-yard receiver, as he has proven that he is one of the best in the league. For a great young quarterback in Jared Goff, adding Cooks will certainly help him replicate his strong season. In addition to that, he is also an upgrade over Watkins.

For the Patriots, while losing Cooks certainly affects the offense for next season, getting the 23rd overall pick is a very good return. The decision to trade Cooks likely stems from the some of the recent contracts that wide receivers have been getting of late.

The Patriots certainly wouldn’t be willing to give Cooks a massive contract, even though he will be deserving of it come next season. With another first-round pick in their arsenal, the Patriots will certainly be a team to watch leading up to the draft, as they could go in multiple directions.

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Now, the Patriots will likely look to replace Cooks either with a rookie in the draft or a veteran in free agency. The Patriots are always looking toward the future and the trading of Cooks in the final year of his contract reflects that.