The Los Angeles Rams roster has undergone a bit of a makeover this offseason with a number of key players departing due to the team’s lack of cap space.
A big reason for that lack of cap space was due to extensions the organization handed out the last couple of years that haven’t worked out as planned.
One of those extensions was for running back Todd Gurley, who was released this offseason before his extension even kicked in so the Rams can save some cash.
Another of those extensions was for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and while he has produced on the field when healthy, staying on it has been an issue as he has dealt with a number of concussions over the last few years.
He still has four years and around $51 million remaining on his contract, which is why the Rams have been shopping him on the trade market this offseason. It appears they have found a taker as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting that the Rams are sending Cooks and a fourth-round draft pick to the Houston Texans and a second-rounder:
The #Texans are sending a 2nd round pick to the #Rams in exchange for WR Brandin Cooks and a future fourth-round pick, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 9, 2020
According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Rams are acquiring the 57th overall pick in this year’s draft and the pick they’re giving away is in 2022:
Texans acquire WR Brandin Cooks and a 2022 fourth-round pick from the Rams for the 57th pick in this month's draft.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) April 9, 2020
The Texans had an obvious need at wide receiver after trading DeAndre Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals. Instead of using a second-round pick on one in a receiver-heavy draft class, they instead get a known commodity in Cooks, who is still just 26 years of age and has now been traded three times in his career.
Cooks is coming off the worst season of his career, catching 42 passes for 583 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games. He had four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons before that though so can certainly turn things around in 2020.
The Rams still shouldn’t have any issues replacing him though as they have Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Josh Reynolds on their roster in addition to a pair of quality tight ends in Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett.
Meanwhile, the Rams may not have any first-rounders in the upcoming draft, but they now have two second-rounders at their disposal to continue improving the roster. It will be interesting to see if they use one of those on a receiver, or if they fill other needs and trust Reynolds to be their No. 3 in 2020.
