Brandin Cooks to Rams for a 1st: blockbuster

[Ramhusker]

When you first hear about this trade, the natural reaction is, "WHAT?" but once you let it settle down a bit, it makes a ton of sense. The key is signing him to an extension. He is definitely what we needed and will be a much better deal than OBJ would have been with less drama I promise. Just pretend we drafted him with that 1st rounder this year. Beauty is this draft is pretty stout when it comes to LB. ILBs tend to slip a little in the draft and it's very possible to get a starter in the 3rd round. (I'm looking at you Micah Kiser) With 3 4ths and 4 6ths, I feel pretty confident the Rams can move up at some point even if it takes a 3rd round pick from next year as well, especially if someone has slipped which someone always does. Choose to like it boys!!!! It's going to work out!!!!

 

[Varg6]

Look, I trust McVay and Snead. The duo hasn’t really failed us yet. My initial reaction wasn’t much excitement because I wanted to see us grab a stud LB in the 1st and I was hoping to see what we could do with Josh Reynolds. However, if McVay was pining for this guy (and he is young), from a logical perspective in regard to 1st rounders panning out, I guess it’s worth it. Only time will tell. Regardless, I’ll be open minded to most things this FO does until they actually screw up. My only concern at this point is paying all these players (and I get that we’re “all in” this year..hopefully we can retain most of these players in the future).

 

[OldSchool]

I don't know if anyone brought this up yet, but I get the feeling Cooks is going to be very open to a deal in L.A.

I doubt he is going to want to play on 4 teams in 4 years. It's time to settle down.

It certainly seems so. New England had opened dialogue with him about an extension and it seems they didn't want to pay him.


View: https://twitter.com/fieldyates/status/981300786855600129?s=21


That's less than what Watkins got. Cooks in 4 years has played in more games, has more receptions, a higher catch rate, more yards, more TD and according to reports was asking for less from the Patriots for an extension than Sammy got from KC.

 

[Farr Be It]

Hearing the news here in New England and broke it first on the radio, apparently the Rams and patriots have been discussing a trade for over a month before Odell opportunity. Something must’ve snagged with the giants or they were standing firm on there ask. Could be to that Odell was asking for too much and we simply couldn’t pay it with our future obligations.

Or that our flirting with Beckham helped bring down the asking price for Cooks.

 

[TSFH Fan]

Both got rid of him purely for cap reasons.

He's balled out everywhere he played.

People change over time and Cooks could work out well for the Rams, but it doesn't seem like the Saints moved him "purely for cap reasons."

Brandin Cooks' frustrations led to Saints sending him to Patriots
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...rations-led-to-saints-sending-him-to-patriots

It had been rumored for months. And yet, when the Saints traded star wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Patriots in March, it was one of the most shocking circumstances of this offseason.

With the two teams set to play one another today at 1 p.m. ET, let's take a look back at how this trade -- which netted New Orleans the 32nd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft -- went down.

According to multiple sources informed of the situation in New Orleans, Cooks was dealt because of a combination of his unhappiness with his role, his doubts that aging quarterback Drew Brees could get him the ball deep, the Saints' frustrations with Cooks focusing on his numbers and their disbelief he should be paid like a top receiver.

In a matter-of-fact meeting with coach Asshole Face deep into 2016, Cooks laid out his issues. The Saints got through the season, then dealt Cooks.

It started in the one-point win over the Chargers last year, when Cooks had just three catches. He was spotted being grumpy in the locker room despite the victory, which rubbed some in the organization the wrong way.

They knew it was going to be a problem.

Then, Cooks had no catches in a blowout victory over the Rams when the Saints scored 49 points. It was a big game for the team, and Cooks took the opportunity to use the aftermath to clamor for more targets.

"Closed mouths don't get fed," he told reporters. That week, reports (including from NFL Network) discussed the two sides parting ways in the offseason.

Internally, when Payton discussed the issue with Cooks, the receiver never left satisfied. The longtime coach pacified the issue, telling Cooks he'd get targets. And the following week he did -- a season-high seven catches the next week. But Cooks felt the elephant in the room -- Brees' arm strength not enabling him to find Cooks deep -- couldn't be talked about on any level.

That was frustrating to him, though personally and professionally he loved Brees. The situation and Cooks' feelings were addressed with Payton, his receivers coach John Morton, offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael and general manager Mickey Loomis. Some talks even began in the preseason.

To the Saints, Cooks appeared to be more concerned about himself than the team. In addition, the Saints knew Cooks eventually wanted to be paid like a top receiver -- something they weren't willing to do. As a result, trade plans started shortly thereafter.

Now, he'll try to show his former team what it is missing. Meanwhile, the Saints will be starting Ryan Ramczyk at left tackle -- who they selected with the pick they acquired from the Patriots.

Follow Ian Rapoport on Twitter @RapSheet.

 

[KayJay]

Loved this trade, I understand people's complaints but dude is a number one and a speedster like we wanted. Lol by the way, I heard someone called him a midget roflmao...I ummm....have you ever heard of Antonio Brown? I mean Odell is only 5'11". Lol you have to understand these guys play bigger than their actual size. Need I remind you of Brian Quick who had the size but not the route running ability. Chill, this is the perfect piece for Goff. Goff is a pocket passer, the last thing I need is him feeling like he needs to force the ball to a WR just because of his name. I loved this trade; and like it was said earlier nobody at 23 was worth our pick. This way the rest of our picks can be depth for the OL and we need to address line backer.

 

[OldSchool]

Brandin Cooks is only 14 months older than Calvin Ridley, a name I've seen mentioned we could have maybe gotten in the draft if we traded up, he has 4 years of good NFL experience especially playoff experience. Yes he's more expensive but he's proven.

 

[ReekofRams]

Let's just hope too many cooks don't spoil the Goff.

 

[OldSchool]

Shop job from reddit!

 

[IowaRam]

Shop job from reddit!

 

[Psycho_X]

That's less than what Watkins got. Cooks in 4 years has played in more games, has more receptions, a higher catch rate, more yards, more TD and according to reports was asking for less from the Patriots for an extension than Sammy got from KC.

Yeah, Cooks agent isn't going to take less than what Sammy got this offseason now. He's a proven WR who is young and in his prime now. Like I said earlier I love this trade if we sign him long term. With us having so much cap space next year and so many free agents to resign we won't be getting a 3rd round comp pick for him if he leaves next offseason. So it's not quite as minimal a price as it was to rent Watkins for a year.

So far, loving Snead's ability to go out and get people his coaches want. But this front office has a LOT to prove over the next year about whether it can actually sign talent we want to KEEP long term.

 

[OldSchool]

Yeah, Cooks agent isn't going to take less than what Sammy got this offseason now. He's a proven WR who is young and in his prime now. Like I said earlier I love this trade if we sign him long term. With us having so much cap space next year and so many free agents to resign we won't be getting a 3rd round comp pick for him if he leaves next offseason. So it's not quite as minimal a price as it was to rent Watkins for a year.

So far, loving Snead's ability to go out and get people his coaches want. But this front office has a LOT to prove over the next year about whether it can actually sign talent we want to KEEP long term.

Very possible, we'll see what happens going forward.

 

[OldSchool]

Seems like a good time to get my favorite .gif in here to appreciate Les Snead.

 

[OldSchool]

Rams fans complaining about the trade yet lets take a look at what Brady has to work with right now on offense. And they've already said they will not pursue OBJ so don't add him in here.


View: https://twitter.com/evansilva/status/981301865462796288

 

[DR RAM]

I am 100% good with it, I will worry about later, later. Cook gives us a true #1, a deep threat, another weapon, and serious juice in the run for the playoffs THIS year.

 

[Prime Time]

Some comments from Patriots fans.
**************************************
https://www.patsfans.com/new-englan...s-traded-to-rams-for-23-overall-pick.1144136/

Cooks traded to Rams for 23 overall pick

We just robbed the Rams. Robbery. We basically got out of jail free card with that odd trade from last year. Cooks is a solid player but not a #1 WR nor a player that can consistently beat man coverage.
------------
I didn’t expect this to happen because it didn’t make any sense for his value to be higher on $8M/1yr than $10M/2yrs. Somehow, his value went up.
-----------
Doesn't surprise me. Liked Cooks for what he brought to the table, but Brady has always got it done no matter who he was throwing to.
-----------
Getting a first round pick back makes this a no brainer, Cooks was a good player but he's not a game changer.
-------------
Cooks was non-elite WR who wasn't worth what he was going to get paid come around to that viewpoint now.
-----------
It was inevitable because of his contract looming. I have to be honest, I'll truly miss having Cooks in this offense. He's an unselfish player that changed the way this offense operated for a year. That being said, the value of this deal is simply extraordinary.
-------------
This team needs defense, we need pass rush, something we lacked big time! We couldn’t get a sack to save our lives in the Sb. This year picks should be to fix our defense.
------------
Elite deep threat and a great guy. Although outside of the deep ball, I was very underwhelmed with him as a WR. Mainly regarding his ability after the catch.
-------------
I think we've got Sammy Watkins to thank for that. He leaves, Rams have a hole in their roster and cap space burning a hole in their pocket, and then they panic their way into making the exact same mistake they made last offseason.

I like McVay and I like the Rams in general, but if Cooks leaves this offseason and they end up with nothing to show for the 2017 2nd and 2018 1st that they traded for WRs, it'll be one of the funnier roster blunders of the last couple years.
--------------
I liked Cooks more than most, but the first and the 8.5 mil makes this one easy to swallow.
------------
Wow....they must be confident in the WR's we have or really like someone in the draft or will trade for someone else.
-------------
I really liked Cooks, his bizarre Super Bowl notwithstanding, and I argued against trading him (when some suggested getting a 2nd), but this trade is a no brainer. WR contracts are out of control. 23rd overall is amazing value for a WR with only a year left under contract. The cap relief is no small thing, either.
-----------
I was okay with Cooks I just never believed Belichick would pay the $14-$16m it would cost to keep him past next year which made the 1 the Pats gave up to rent him seem like a high price to pay. Now coughing up #32 last year suddenly looks like a pretty damn good trade.

The Rams are obviously going after it hard to get those PSL's sold.
-------------
I can’t say that Im thrilled about the Cooks trade because I liked how he seemed to pick up the offense. That said, Im glad they received a 1st for him.
----------
I liked Cooks a lot but he did some things that were maddening, like the ill-fated hurdle attempt and running backwards in the Super Bowl. He was a top-tier WR2, not a WR1, but he'll be paid like a WR1. The Patriots got a solid year out of him and actually returned a higher pick than they lost.
-----------
tom's job gets even harder. BB only does this because tb12 is the QB.
----------
I think the trade is really simply about this: Belichick knows he won a SB with Edelman, Hogan, Amendola and Mitchell as his main WRs who covered all parts of the field decently enough. Cooks was a nice extra upgrade when he was cheap. But he didn't offer enough to warrant keeping around when he wasn't cheap.
------------
The Patriots don't make the Super Bowl without Cooks. That trade ultimately saved the season once Edelman went down.

The trade itself is brilliant. Cooks was going to command $13M+ in free agency, and there is no way we were going to pay him that money.

 

[Mackeyser]

And another amazing thing about this.

Cooks had issues in NO with Brees underthrowing him.

Brady did well in not underthrowing but didn't extend him.

Goff keeps overthrowing guys. He's gonna have a serious trouble overthrowing Cooks.

This has the potential to be unbelievably good.

Also, and this is HUGE.

Cooks came in and produced in his first season in an Erhardt-Perkins offense which is by far the hardest for WRs to learn because of the many post-snap options that require the QB and WR to be on the same page.

Now, he'll be back in a WCO and there's NO CHANCE that he won't be fully in the playbook from the jump

 

[Ram_Rally]

Rams fans complaining about the trade yet lets take a look at what Brady has to work with right now on offense. And they've already said they will not pursue OBJ so don't add him in here.


View: https://twitter.com/evansilva/status/981301865462796288

They look very beatable offensively

 

[jrry32]

Brandin Cooks is an incredible talent, but I'm not so sure about this one. Trading the first hurts, and Cooks is in his contract year. We can't afford to lose him.

 

[nanotech]

The conspirator in me says the Rams used the threat of an OBJ trade to leverage the Cooks trade. Then again I always liked the Sherlock Holmes books.