Should LA Rams offer WR Cooks to Eagles for Jeffery?

The LA Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles hold huge contracts to underperforming WRs Brandin Cooks and Alshon Jeffery. Should teams discuss a swap?

The LA Rams do not have much cap space to work with in 2020, which is disappointing in the face of trying to resign key starters from last season. One of the reasons is the megadeal contract held by wide receiver Brandin Cooks – currently estimated to be a $16.8 million hit to the 2020 salary cap by overthecap.com. Another team in a similar situation with their wide receiver is the Philadelphia Eagles, whose megadeal contract with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery will set the team back by approximately $15.45 million against the 2020 salary cap.

The Eagles are concerned about Jeffery. The Rams are concerned about Cooks.  Do you see an opportunity here?

Cooks is a six- year NFL veteran receiver who has averaged nearly 1,000 yards per season. He is a 5-foot-10 184 pound speedster, who can stretch the field.  The Philadelphia Eagles desperately need that type of receiver on the field.  They had hoped for that when they signed WR DeSean Jackson. Jackson only saw limited play in 2019.  Cooks could be solid insurance for 2020.

Jeffery is a an eight-year veteran of the Philadelphia Eagles. Once a star receiver with the Chicago Bears, the 6-foot-3 218 pound receiver has evolved into a possession type receiver for the Eagles. While he hasn’t boasted a 1,000 yard season in six years, he was instrumental for the Eagles in their Super Bowl run.  Jeffery could be that possession type slot receiver in the Rams offense.

Win Win Scenario for both teams

Are we onto something here?  Cooks brings far better on-field production, but he has been the topic of concern over his health.  Jeffery his struggled to stay on the field as well, only playing in 23 of the past 32 games for Philly. But when he is on the field, he gives a tall target who will fight for the ball.

On paper, it appears that the Eagles get the better on-field production in Cooks. That’s presuming Cooks clears his medical checkup.  The salary dollars are far too  close to consider this a salary dump by either team, so in the end there should be a draft pick compensation from Philadelphia to Los Angeles.

In this proposed trade, the Philadelphia Eagles upgrade at WR, and it only costs them falling two rounds late in a deep draft. The Eagles do not currently have a pick in round seven, so that would be a positive as well.  For the Rams, they get approximately $1.4 million in salary cap relief, trade up two rounds in the 2020 NFL Draft, and land a receiver who could be very productive in the slot on possession downs for the Rams.

Let’s make a deal

While either team could say no to a deal like this, I believe it’s a conversation worth having.  The Eagles would have the potential to boast a 1,000 yard receiver for little more risk than their current situation.  The Rams would get a possession slot receiver, a bit of cap space, and upgrade a 2020 7th round pick for a 5th round pick.

Neither Eagles GM Howie Roseman nor Rams GM Les Snead are shy when it comes to the NFL trade market. This type of a deal has their signatures written all over it.  Both teams walk away with more value than they surrender, and in NFL deals, that is rare indeed.