SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 21: Brandin Cooks #12 of the Los Angeles Rams warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Brandin Cooks seems unhappy with life at the Los Angeles Rams, but there is little reason for general manager Les Snead to trade one of their top receivers.
The relationship between Brandin Cooks and the Los Angeles Rams appears strained to say the least.
Amid speculation the Rams have received calls about the wide receiver they traded a first-round pick for back in 2018, Cooks indicated in a Twitter post that he is far from happy in Los Angeles.
Cooks wrote “free me” alongside an emoji of a man facepalming.
Any frustration Cooks is feeling with the way things have rapidly declined for the Rams would be understandable. Los Angeles has lost several key contributors this offseason including linebacker Cory Littleton, pass rusher Dante Fowler and cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman all departing for pastures new.
Free me 🤦🏿♂️
— Brandin Cooks (@brandincooks) March 27, 2020
In an NFC West division where the San Francisco 49ers have acquired another first-round pick through the DeForest Buckner trade and the Arizona Cardinals have landed one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL in DeAndre Hopkins, the Rams have a very tough path to contention in 2020.
Despite any grievances Cooks may have, they should not rush to trade the former New Orleans Saint and New England Patriot. He is still only 26 years old and, with their first pick in the 2020 draft coming at No. 52, the Rams may find it difficult to fill the void with a receiver who can make a similar impact downfield and in the underneath areas.
It is also debatable whether they would receive the compensation to justify trading Cooks. A recent history of concussions may scare teams away and the Rams are unlikely to get anything close to the first-rounder they parted with to acquire him. Also, Los Angeles would be eating $29 million in dead cap to trade him.
When Cooks is healthy, he is a proven commodity. The Rams have lost enough of them already this offseason. It is in the best interest of their hopes of challenging the Niners in 2020 to work things out with a disgruntled Cooks and keep him atop the receiver depth chart.