The Los Angeles Rams suffered a huge blow to their receiving corps after opting to trade Brandin Cooks and a fourth-round pick to the Houston Texans in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Rams had boasted a surplus of talent with their receiver trio of Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp. Although Woods and Kupp still form quite a formidable 1-2 punch, it remains to be seen if some of the other unproven wide receivers on the roster such as Josh Reynolds are capable of stepping up as a viable option in the passing game.
Like running back Todd Gurley, the decision to part ways with Cooks was part of their efforts to rid themselves of some undesirable contracts. Head coach Sean McVay has since acknowledged that he is confident that the Rams have a viable replacement for Gurley in running back Darrell Henderson.
According to Joe Curley of the Ventura County Star, McVay has since expressed the same optimism for Reynolds taking over Cooks’ role in the offense:
Rams head coach Sean McVay called the Brandin Cooks trade “a big vote of confidence” for WR Josh Reynolds and his potential. “We just feel he’s a capable starting receiver.” @usatodaynfl
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) April 21, 2020
It appears the promise Reynolds has shown was enough for McVay and general manager Les Snead to feel comfortable enough to part ways with such a key part of the passing game in Cooks. After all, quarterback Jared Goff is coming off an underwhelming 2019 campaign and losing another weapon in his arsenal is hardly an encouraging sign for a potential resurgence.
Kupp has admitted that losing Cooks leaves the Rams without their most notable deep threat and a major factor in helping to keep opposing defenses honest. As a result, the onus will ultimately fall on Reynolds to show that he can be just as dangerous over the top by capitalizing on his increased workload.
Reynolds certainly does not possess the same kind of burst that Cooks does on the outside, however, his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame makes him a much bigger target for Goff to work with. His clear size advantage should help compensate for the few steps he may lose to his predecessor.
McVay’s comments indicate that Reynolds will get his fair share of opportunities to establish an integral role for himself on offense. It will be interesting to see if the uptick in playing time helps him finally take that next step in his development.
