Rams trade for WR Brandin Cooks, Los Angeles Rams should now do nothing until Opening Day of Camp, 2018 Offseason Program Dates, Draft Picks as of now & Between The Horns Episode 44 w. Myles Simmons

The best scenario happened this week with the Rams. Rams Acquire WR Brandin Cooks this Week. And, we did not have to give up any current players like Cooper Cupp (it was reported that if the Rams were to have traded ofr Odell Beckham, they would have had to give up a few draft picks along with Cooper Cupp. I was against it.

But Sean McVey and the team are way ahead of me because they make this trade for Cooks and it is the best of every world. We get a top notch receiver which we needed and the cost for it is much less and his salary is much less than it would have been for Beckham.

We now have a lot of money in our cap which we will need in 2019 (we will need to sign Aaron Donald once and for all).

Now honestly, the team should do nothing until the camp starts in July/August this year.

I was in hope of getting a WR from another team, but along the lines of say Terrelle Pryor whom I figured would be cheap and could rise to the occasion next to Robert Woods. This trade though, is a blockbuster and the team is set.

We have zero gaps right now unless you want to call the middle of the Defense a gap. Which it is not. Even with Robert Quinn and Alec Ogeltree gone. We are stacked on Defense right now.

I don't even think we need to draft anyone unless we can snag a diamond in the rough in the area I just mentioned.

We are set as a team. I don't want to make any more moves and now everyone just needs to stay uninjured this year.

Here is that information about this latest trade that went down this week!

The Rams have made another move to acquire an impact player before the start of the offseason program, trading for Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

Los Angeles receives Cooks and New England’s No. 136 overall pick in the fourth round in exchange for the Rams’ No. 23 overall pick and No. 198 overall in the sixth round.

Cooks has been an impact player throughout the early course of his career, recording three straight seasons of at least 1,000 yards receiving since 2015. Selected No. 20 overall in 2014, Cooks spent the first three years of his career in New Orleans before being traded to New England last offseason.

In his lone season as a Patriot, the 5-foot-10, 189-pound receiver caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards with seven touchdowns. In the last three seasons, Cooks has averaged 75.7 receptions for 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns.

Over the four years of his career, Cooks has made 280 receptions for 3,943 yards with 27 touchdowns. He’s also taken 30 carries for 161 yards and a TD.

Cooks is in the last year of his rookie contract, as the Patriots picked up his fifth-year option in April of last year.

With his considerable speed — Cooks ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine back in 2014 — Cooks likely slots in as Los Angeles’ vertical threat, helping to offset the loss of wide receiver Sammy Watkins in free agency.

Cooks will join cornerbacks and , as well as defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh as the newest additions to the Rams locker room in 2018. And as was the case with the acquisition of all three, the social media world erupted with excitement as the trade became official.

Check out a few of the top tweets:

Here are five things to know about the newest Ram:

1) He is one of the NFL’s most consistent receivers

Cooks was drafted by the Saints in 2014 as the 20th overall pick. Since then, the Oregon State product has developed into one of the most consistent wide receivers in the league — posting three consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving.

He is also one of just three active players to record at least 1,000 and at least five touchdowns in each of the last three seasons. The only other players on that list are Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown and the Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald.

Cooks finished his 2017 campaign in New England with 65 receptions, 1,082 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns.

2) Cooks set several records while at Oregon State

Not only did Cooks play in every single game through three seasons at Oregon State, but he was also one of the Beavers’ top receivers — awarded the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s top wideout in 2013.

The combination of Cooks and wide receiver Markus Wheaton created one of the most dynamic receiving duos in college football and in Oregon State history. In the 2012 season alone, the players combined for 158 receptions, 2,395 yards, and 16 touchdowns.

Rams quarterback was the Oregon State starter for all of Cooks’ collegiate career. The duo will reunite during the 2018 offseason program, when Cooks’ officially joins the Rams on field.

3) He is an avid photographer

Take a peak at Cooks’ Instagram page and you’ll immediately notice his passion for photography. When he’s not playing football, the young receiver can often be found with a camera in hand, capturing some of the most beautiful cities and landscapes around the world.

According to an interview with ESPN, Cooks’ passion for photography developed slowly throughout his life. After his father passed away when Cooks was just six years old, he realized the value in capturing every important moment of his life — good or bad.

“There’s not too many pictures I have with my dad growing up, or just moments that we had,” he told ESPN. “And I always told myself I want to capture as much as I can. So, I leaned towards photography just because that’s the easiest way to capture memories and being able to see them in the future.”

4) Cooks spent his first NFL check on a gift for his mother

Because Cooks grew up primarily in a single-parent household, he is understandably very close to his mother. After declaring for the NFL Draft after the 2013 season, he decided to thank his mom, Andrea, for all she did for him and his three brothers — gifting her with a brand new Mercedes GLK.

And in true Cooks’ fashion, he captured the loving moment on video.

5) The story behind his trademark touchdown celebration

Before it was outlawed by new rules governing NFL touchdown celebrations, Cooks’ signature bow-and-arrow motion had become his trademark. After every touchdown and every big play, the process was the same: pull back an invisible bow and fire an invisible arrow.

But why a bow and arrow? And why choose the same celebration week after week?

"It has to do with the Bible," Cooks said in an interview with NOLA.com. “That was just one of my things giving my glory to God for blessing me to do what I do.”

The celebration alludes to a Bible verse in which a boy named Ishmael uses his archery to survive in the desert after nearly dying of thirst.

Cooks Excited to Begin Working with Goff

New WR Brandin Cooks said he's looking forward to growing together with a young QB like Jared Goff in Los Angeles.
Rams Introduce Cooks as Newest Wide Receiver

GM Les Snead and HC Sean McVay praised WR Brandin Cooks' character during an introductory press conference on Thursday morning.

Following the trade, Los Angeles has eight picks in the upcoming NFL Draft:

As it stands now, the Rams will not be selecting in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft for the second year in a row. But the club does hold three fourth-round and four sixth-round selections to round out its eight total picks.

Here’s the full rundown of where L.A. will be selecting in April’s draft:

Round 3 — 23rd choice — No. 87 overall

Round 4 — 11th choice — No. 111 (from Dolphins)

Round 4 — 35th choice — No. 135 (from Giants)

Round 4 — 36th choice — No. 136 (from Patriots)

Round 6 — 2nd choice — No. 176 (from Giants)

Round 6 — 9th choice — No. 183 (from Dolphins)

Round 6 — 20th choice — No. 194 (from Lions)

Round 6 — 21st choice — No. 195 (from Bills)
For the complete draft order, click here.

Rams Announce 2018 Offseason Program Dates

Now that the calendar has turned to April, offseason programs will begin across the NFL. Some teams with new head coaches will begin their programs as soon as this week. The Rams, however, will begin their offseason program on April 16.

The offseason program is comprised of three voluntary phases and one mandatory minicamp. The first phase includes classroom work with coaches and strength and conditioning work on the field. Coaches are not allowed on the field with players for this phase.

In Phase Two, coaches are allowed on the field for drills and instruction, but offense and defense must practice separately. That means there cannot be team drills or any live contact.

Teams are allowed a total of 10 organized team activities — more commonly known as OTAs — in Phase Three. These practices may have 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills, but cannot have any live contact.

And at the end of phase three, returning coaches are allowed one mandatory minicamp.

NFL teams may also hold a rookie development program, which includes one minicamp. Los Angeles’ rookie minicamp date will be announced later.

Below are the dates for the Rams’ 2018 offseason program, which are subject to change:

First day: April 16
OTAs: May 21-22, May 24, May 29-31, June 4-7
Mandatory minicamp: June 12-14

Diary Of A Ram Fan. A satirical look at more than 75 years of Football's Rams history, combined with discussions of American Exceptionalism and almost 50 years of personal experience in the life of a Rams Fan. The history parallels and intertwines life to form a humorous, yet serious look at American History, World History, an American Football team, and Political Science.