Brandin Cooks
Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks has been dealt away to the LA Rams. (Michael Dwyer/AP Photo)

The Los Angeles Rams just gave the Bill Belichick the keys to rebuilding the franchise… The New England Patriots made the Super Bowl this past year but there’s no secret that their roster stinks. While the Pats just acquired Brandin Cooks just a year ago, it appears that he is merely a rental. The Pats have traded Brandin Cooks to the Rams for a first round pick and a late round pick swap.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter had the details of the trade:

LA was heavily involved in the Odell Beckham sweepstakes but realized that the price tag was way too steep. Now LA has found their new solution to replace the departed, Sammy Watkins. LA also traded a second round pick for Watkins who signed with the Chiefs for a ridiculous price tag this offseason. The Rams may have just followed that formula again with Cooks who also comes as a possible rental. Cooks come with one-year left on his rookie contract with his fifth-year option.

New England was not interested in paying Cooks past this year. Even the $8 million fifth-year option for this season was a price tag that was even too steep. With Cooks gone, this likely means that Rob Gronkowski’s roster spot is safe with New England. I’ve been on record for saying that trading first round picks is an awful business to enter. Belichick obviously learned from his mistake and recouped the first round pick that he sent to New Orleans a year ago.

That’s Some Cheese – Episode 17 – 3.28.18

Could Bill Belichick be thinking quarterback now with the extra draft ammo? With two firsts and two seconds, New England has plenty of draft assets to move up if there’s a QB that Belichick falls in love with.