Rumors of Brady to Raiders increases WR Cooks trade

The LA Rams pay heed to NFL Rumors of Brady to the Las Vegas Raiders. WR Brandin Cooks would be a priority receiver to add to the Raiders offense if true

The LA Rams needn’t heed much when it comes to NFL Rumors. But when the subject involves New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, virtually all 32 NFL teams need to sit up and take notice. After all, he is the only active NFL quarterback to boast six Super Bowl rings. Of course, one ring came at the expense of the LA Rams in Super Bowl LIII.

The eventual team for Brady in 2020 is anyone’s guess. At one point, the LA Rams were rumored to be in play as a potential team for Tom Terrific, but the logistics of the Rams salary cap situation makes that highly unlikely.

Some teams continue to fan the flames of rumors, and the Los Angeles Chargers seem to hold a growing consensus among some NFL prognosticators.

Meanwhile, a separate but equally persuasive group insists that it’s the Las Vegas Raiders with the upper hand peeling Brady away from the Patriots.  To help the cause, the rumor of Brady looking to land with the Las Vegas Raiders seems to be picking up steam.

For the LA Rams, Brady to the Raiders would open up the likelihood of another and more beneficial likelihood: trading WR Brandin Cooks to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Star power on Vegas strip

The Raiders are desperate for an NFL star at wide receiver, having no wide receiver threaten to haul 700 yards last season. If not for tight end Darren Walker, the Raiders passing game would have generated less than 3,000 yards through the air all season. The receiving corps simply does nothing to attract Brady, and won’t unless the Raiders trade for a true target worthy of Brady’s arm.

Enter WR Brandin Cooks.  Brady and Cooks were teammates in 2017, where Cooks was a favorite target for Brady. Cooks was targetted 114 times that season, hauling in 65 passes and 7 touchdowns.  Cooks average per reception led the Patriots with 16.6 yards.

If the Raiders truly wanted to attract Brady, they would be more than willing to deal with Cooks from the Rams.  If the Rams trade him in 2020, they will remain on the hook for $17,800,000, an additional $1 million cap hit. But that frees up plenty of space for the Rams for next year, when WR Cooper Kupp looks to get paid. From the Rams perspective, freeing up dollars to sign Kupp in 2021 makes complete sense.

Raiders and gentlemen, place your bets

Cooks would cost the Raiders approximately $12 million per year.  That’s much more economical than the $17.8 million he hits the Rams this season.  In exchange for the expense and player, the Rams would be happy with two 2020 third-round picks from the Raiders.

Of course, many things must take place for this trade to occur. Despite the Raiders level-headed general manager Mike Mayock, the temptation to add Brady to the roster is too much for the Raiders GM to resist.

The key to this is whether Raiders GM believes Cooks can stay healthy.  The key seems to be the Raiders’ willingness to manage his workload to approximately 80 percent of the offensive plays.  With the Raiders, that should be no problem.  Cooks on that offense is more icing on the cake than entree’.  Will the Raiders be able to attract Brady to play for them at any contract price? With their current roster, it’s an uphill climb. But if the Raiders dealt for WR Brandin Cooks, that could persuade Brady to rejoin his former favorite target and compete for a Super Bowl with the young-and-improving Las Vegas Raiders.

The Rams won’t ask for much. Two third-round picks will get the job done. The Raiders currently own picks 12, 19, 80, 81, 92, 111, and 204. The Rams would gladly accept picks 81 and 92 for Cooks’ discounted salary.  Receivers take years to develop to NFL proficiency, which makes Mayock very open to trading for a veteran WR this season.

Of course, any trade is a gamble. The Raiders gamble is upon Cooks having another 1,000 plus yards receiving. The Rams gamble upon finding talent in the 2020 NFL Draft equivalent to the play-making ability Cooks delivers. Raiders and gentlemen, place your bets.