Brandin Cooks Contract Extension Reportedly Interests Rams After Trade

The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly looking to extend the contract of wide receiver Brandin Cooks after acquiring him from the New England Patriots on Tuesday.

Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported the news.

The Rams reportedly traded their first-round pick (No. 23 overall) and a sixth-rounder in exchange for Cooks and a fourth, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Cooks, 24, recorded 65 receptions for 1,082 and seven touchdowns last season. It was his first year in New England after coming over via an offseason trade from the New Orleans Saints in March 2017. He's had at least 1,000 yards receiving each of the last three seasons.

The Rams will be responsible for paying Cooks $8.5 million next season, the final year of his rookie contract. Prices for wide receivers on the open market have been soaring of late, so the Rams are looking at an extension that will almost certainly pay Cooks more than $10 million annually.

The Philadelphia Eagles gave Alshon Jeffery a four-year, $52 million contract in December. Jeffery has not had a 1,000-yard receiving season since 2014. 

Cooks will almost certainly look to begin negotiations with a better contract than Jeffery. Something like $60 million over four years is not out of the question here.