The New England Patriots are shipping wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Lost Angeles Rams. In return, the Patriots will receive the 23rd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Adam Schefter reported the details of the trade on Twitter.
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
Patriots and Rams have discussed a potential Brandin Cooks trade for over a month, before Rams and Giants discussed a potential Odell Beckham Jr. trade. Rams liked this situation better.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2018
Trading for Cooks essentially eliminates the idea that the Rams will trade for New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. There have been conflicting reports if the Giants were in the market for trading Beckham. If so, it was reported that the Giants would demand at least two first-round picks in return for the Pro-Bowl receiver.
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
There was some speculation that the Patriots would try to move tight end Rob Gronkowski sometime this offseason. Though this info came around April Fool’s Day, there were some in the NFL that took it as a legit report. Regardless, trading away Cooks means that none of the Patriots other targets will be on the market.
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
Schefter also points out that the Patriots now have two selections in the first and second round. The Patriots do a pretty good job in each draft it seems. The Patriots can either settle on these picks or move up in the draft order.
New England is now armed with double 1’s, double 2’s, and in prime position to move up in draft and select a QB if it so chooses.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2018
Drafting someone in the first or second round means that you believe that player can be a game changer or a definite starter on the team. Regardless of how the Patriots move forward, they are in a position to revamp their roster and make another Super Bowl run.
