Brandin Cooks Traded from Patriots to Rams for 1st and 6th-Round Draft Picks

Continuing their flurry of offseason activity, the Los Angeles Rams announced Tuesday they acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the New England Patriots.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Patriots will receive the No. 23 overall pick and a sixth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft. On Wednesday, Schefter reported trade talks between the two sides started when New England's attempts to re-sign Cooks "stalled." Schefter also noted head coaches Sean McVay and Bill Belichick worked at the same coaching clinic in Georgia, escalating the discussions.

The Rams began their offseason by acquiring cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters in separate deals with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively. They announced an agreement with free-agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh last week.

Cooks has now been traded twice in the past 13 months. New England acquired him from the New Orleans Saints for two draft picks in March 2017. The 24-year-old finished second on the Patriots with 65 receptions, 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

After winning the NFC West with an 11-5 record in 2017, the Rams are taking significant steps to improve next season by adding impact talent on both sides of the ball. Kenny Britt in 2016 is the only Los Angeles receiver with more than 1,000 yards in a season since 2008.

The Patriots appear to have big plans for the draft at the end of this month. The reigning AFC champions will own two picks in each of the first two rounds and five picks in the first three rounds.