In a stunning turn of events, sources have confirmed that the New England Patriots have indeed traded Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams.
NFL insider Adam Schefter reported the trade as well as the details of the swap.
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 receive:
WR Brandin Cooks
4th-round pickPatriots receive:
1st-round pick
6th-round pick— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2018
Schefter also reported that this deal means that tight end Rob Gronkowski will not be going anywhere as a result of this which means the team will most likely rely on the trio of Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, and Gronkowski as weapons on offense.
The Patriots now have two picks in the first round and two picks in the second round which translates to the team being in prime position to make a big impact in this year’s draft.
The Oregon State alum was due upwards of $8,459,000 by the Patriots with all that becoming dead money.
Cooks had 65 receptions for a team leading 1,082 yards to go with seven touchdowns.
To answer the question of whether to like this trade or not. The answer will rely on what the team does with its selections.
The last time the Patriots had two first round draft picks was in 2012 when they made both picks to get two playmakers on defense in Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower. The Patriots clearly have needs on offense now.
One on the offensive line, and the other being a possible successor to Tom Brady. The team obviously now has the collateral to indeed move up in the draft if they want to or can stay put to make the two selections they have now.
The Patriots have not picked in the first round of the two previous drafts as a result of “Deflategate” and using their No. 32 pick to trade ironically for Cooks last season.
One thing is indeed for certain, if you think they didn’t make any big moves in free agency, there’s going to be a lot of movement on draft day.
The wide receivers on the Patriots are now as follows:
- Julian Edelman
- Chris Hogan
- Malcolm Mitchell
- Kenny Britt
- Cordarrelle Patterson
- Riley McCarron
- Cody Hollister
- Phillip Dorsett
- Matthew Slater
