Rams extend Cooks through 2023

[den-the-coach]

I hope this was not an overpay to save face on giving up prime draft picks and losing Watkins. Hope that makes sense lol.

I don't see it as that, cap friendly deal that even gives the Rams more cap room over the next couple of years because they need to sign quite a few players. I concur with @LoyalRam this deal will look like a bargain sooner rather than later.

 

[Faceplant]

This is going to be a bargain in a few years, and we will all forget the terms once we see that kid scaring the shit out of defenses. McVay is going to use him as more than a deep threat, I can almost guarantee that. Many of you griped about Tavon not being involved in this offense last year, but he was an integral part of it in many ways. Cooks will take over some of those roles, while also stretching defenses out like like taffy. I can't wait to see this offense.....

 

[VegasRam]

I never said 15M a year for a guard or center. I said i would prioritize paying those positions but at their respective salary range.

We are going to have massive holes on the Oline next year. It would be nice to have some cash to fill some holes rather than relying on multiple late round rookies.

Line was pretty good last year, have drafted decent backups, and can’t ssume we don’t resign Hav Brown and Saffold.
Might draft online early as well as we’re fairly set most everywhere else.

 

[Boston Ram]

I don't see it as that, cap friendly deal that even gives the Rams more cap room over the next couple of years because they need to sign quite a few players. I concur with @LoyalRam this deal will look like a bargain sooner rather than later.

I guess I am having trouble getting my head around Cooks being the 3rd or 4th highest paid receiver lol. I have been critical for Demoff but I do like the way this contract was structured. Cap wise it works.

 

[ReekofRams]

I guess I am having trouble getting my head around Cooks being the 3rd or 4th highest paid receiver lol. I have been critical for Demoff but I do like the way this contract was structured. Cap wise it works.

Patience young grasshopper, in time all will be clear.

I see where you're coming from, but by this time next year when his extension begins Cooks will not be in the top 5 as far as annual salary. And in two years he will not be in top 10, maybe not even in the top 15. That is why a 5 year extension is so much more valuable than a 4 year extension. By the last couple of years his contract will likely look pretty average.

 

[Ramstien]

I really like the level of commitment that the Rams are showing toward Cooks and that Cooks is showing to the Rams. I believe barring injury he will go down as one of the Rams top receivers ever.

 

[Zodi]

I guess I am having trouble getting my head around Cooks being the 3rd or 4th highest paid receiver lol.

Then think of it as "third or fourth most recently paid receiver." Like others have said, this deal will look like nothing in a few years.

 

[iamme33]

Will be surprised if Cooks racks up 1000 yards this season; only way I can see that happening is if Goff has a 5000 yard season.

wow selling goff a little short at 5000. or maybe i'm being a little over optimistic ?

 

[yrba1]

wow selling goff a little short at 5000. or maybe i'm being a little over optimistic ?

I don't expect Goff to have a 5000 yard season because Gurley will break ED's 2105 yard record.

 

[ReekofRams]

wow selling goff a little short at 5000. or maybe i'm being a little over optimistic ?

All he needs to do is average a little over 312 yards a game. A couple of 400 yard games, and a 500 yard game just to be safe, and he'll easily get 5000 yards this coming season. No problemo man.

 

[T-REX]

 

[Merlin]

Interesting that they would sign him before he played one down for the Rams but did not do the same for Sammy Watkins.

They may not have been feeling it as strongly for Sammy.

The point I was trying to make is that we were in a exact same situation with Watkins being on the last year of his contract yet they didn't sign him but they did make it a priority to sign Cooks.

I think there's a few reasons why they paid Cooks:

1. They gave up a round 1 pick for him. Value of that alone pretty much determined that if they let him escape via FA they effed up.

2. Cooks is a better fit for this offense. Watkins is an elite athlete, but his route running is not exemplary and I suspect his impact was limited by knowledge of the offense. The Rams undoubtedly wanted him back due to the round 2 pick they gave up for him, but the truth is this offense and McVay as an extension of the Gruden tree prioritizes route running. So fit is a big difference between the two, with Cooks being a perfect addition due to his route running on top of everything else he brings.

3. Losing Watkins and that round 2 pick factored in too I think. To the point where I would assume Kevin OK'd the trade based on thinking he could get a deal done. After having lost Watkins to FA and to a lesser extent looking at the miss rate we've seen on wideouts even early in the draft in recent years, it was crucial they don't lose him to FA.

Either way though, just glad it's done. I think this guy is a perfect pairing with McVay and this offense at large. So excited about this season, just hope that Donald gets knocked out next.

 

[WestCoastRam]

We also traded a 4th rounder for Cooks along with the 1st. Funny how that gets washed out.

 

[Akrasian]

We also traded a 4th rounder for Cooks along with the 1st. Funny how that gets washed out.

The Rams traded a 1st and 6th, and got Cooks and a 4th.

For Watkins they traded Gaines and a 2nd, and got back Watkins and a 6th. Oh, and will get a 3rd round comp pick.

Watkins also had the advantage of getting a starting wideout who had a low salary ($800k cap hit for the Rams)

 

[VegasRam]

just hope that Donald gets knocked out next.

I ain't trying that!

 

[Corbin]

As I've continued to enjoy Demoff's tenure here with the Rams he knows what he doing contrary to popular belief. Guy is an amazing wizard with the cap, terms, contracts and negotiating. He would be a hell of a person to study under to learn the business!

Great player in Cooks and great signing!

 

[OldSchool]

We also traded a 4th rounder for Cooks along with the 1st. Funny how that gets washed out.

Actually we got Cooks and a 4th for a 1st and 6th.

 

[VegasRam]

Actually we got Cooks and a 4th for a 1st and 6th.

:rimshot:

 

[FrantikRam]

I think there's a few reasons why they paid Cooks:

1. They gave up a round 1 pick for him. Value of that alone pretty much determined that if they let him escape via FA they effed up.

2. Cooks is a better fit for this offense. Watkins is an elite athlete, but his route running is not exemplary and I suspect his impact was limited by knowledge of the offense. The Rams undoubtedly wanted him back due to the round 2 pick they gave up for him, but the truth is this offense and McVay as an extension of the Gruden tree prioritizes route running. So fit is a big difference between the two, with Cooks being a perfect addition due to his route running on top of everything else he brings.

3. Losing Watkins and that round 2 pick factored in too I think. To the point where I would assume Kevin OK'd the trade based on thinking he could get a deal done. After having lost Watkins to FA and to a lesser extent looking at the miss rate we've seen on wideouts even early in the draft in recent years, it was crucial they don't lose him to FA.

Either way though, just glad it's done. I think this guy is a perfect pairing with McVay and this offense at large. So excited about this season, just hope that Donald gets knocked out next.

Just to add another point to this..

When I first saw the money I thought to myself, why not sign Watkins for that amount? Same exact money, and we keep the first round pick. Money being the same, I think most of us would agree that Sammy+1st round pick is better than Cooks. And I say that as a guy that really likes Cooks.

But the thing is, the money isn't really the same.

Cooks is "only" making his $8 million THIS season. Watkins was always going to make around $16 million THIS season (once Buffalo declined his fifth year option). That difference of $8 million could be viewed as the Talib trade. Or money to go toward Suh or Joyner.

This feels like a bit of an overpay for Cooks, but I'm glad it's done and obviously trust McVay - plus we have a ton of cap space the next few years.

 

[fanotodd]

It ain't my money. I don't care what numbers Cooks puts up if our offense continues to dominate and we continue to win.

Ah, you say that now, but Watkins led the team in TD receptions and we were 11-4 and clinched the division before tanking the last game and not everybody on this board was too thrilled with him.

I think his #s are gonna dip below his average because of all the weapons we now have. I'm ok with it too if we keep winning, but not to consider salaries when there is a cap is foolhardy.