With the NFL trade merry-go-round in full swing, the New England Patriots couldn’t just sit and watch, so they opted to trade Brandin Cooks and their fourth-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Rams instead.
In exchange, the Patriots received the Rams’ first-round and sixth-round picks and while the deal makes sense for both franchises, the reasons behind the trade are likely to be heavily scrutinized, particularly in New England.
So, why did the Patriots trade Cooks?
Brandin Cooks #14 of the New England Patriots looks on before the AFC Championship Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 21, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.