Best photos of newly acquired WR Brandin Cooks. (Photos by AP)
This offseason, theRams.com will be taking a look around the internet for the top Rams headlines of the day. Here's a look at what's out there for Wednesday, April 4th about your Los Angeles Rams:
Rams Prove All-In for 2018, Continue Aggressive Offseason
With the trade for Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters coupled with the signings of All-Pro cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in free agency, the Rams had already recorded one of the most aggressive NFL offseasons to date. Then on Tuesday, Los Angeles shocked the sports world by trading for Patriots' wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
And with moves upfront and in the secondary, plus the addition of a new playmaker on offense, the writers at Pro Football Focus are taking a look at the Rams’ moves mean for their outlook in 2018.
Trade for Brandin Cooks
"On the surface, trading a first-round draft pick for Brandin Cooks when the Rams already have Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods on their roster might seem like a luxury, but when you look at the Rams personnel usage in 2017, another top receiver was a team need."
Impact Signing of Suh Up Front
"The Rams' signing of Ndamukong Suh made a huge statement of their intentions this season. [Suh and Aaron Donald] should strike fear into every offense on their schedule in 2018, combining for 17 sacks, 21 hits and 96 hurries a season ago. The level of disruption they can bring to the interior is something we really haven't seen in recent memory…"
Playmakers in the Defensive Backfield
"With dominant pressure on the interior, plays will be there to be made from the Rams defensive backs with quarterbacks forced into early throws and likely several mistakes. With that in mind, the addition of Marcus Peters this offseason was huge. [Plus] Aqib Talib has been one of the stingiest cornerbacks in coverage over the past two seasons, allowing just 601 yards in coverage since the beginning of the 2016 season."
**Mind-Boggling Stats: Brandin Cooks
**
Cooks is headed for Los Angeles. And in anticipation of his big move, NFL.com is breaking down a few mind-boggling stats from the wideout’s career and what they mean for the L.A. offense.
— Cooks was the 20th overall pick in 2014 and is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
— In 2017, Cooks has 65 receptions, 1,082 receiving yards and seven touchdowns — good for No. 2 on the Patriots behind tight end Rob Gronkowski.
— Cooks is one of five players with three straight 1,000 yard seasons since 2015.
— The Oregon State product is also one of just three players with 1,000 or more receiving yards and five-or-more receiving touchdowns in each of the last three seasons.
— No Patriots receiver since 2001 has averaged more yards per reception in a season than Cooks in 2017 (16.6).