With the hopes of strengthening their offense, the Los Angeles Rams signed wide receiver Brandin Cooks into a five-year contract extension on Tuesday.
Cooks inked a deal worth $80 million, which starts in 2019 according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Cooks will receive $16 million per year in his new contract, which ties him with Sammy Watkins as the fifth-highest paid wide receiver in the NFL.
"Brandin Cooks has shown himself to be a class act on and off the field since the first day he joined our team. He's a proven professional in this league and signing him to a long-term contract was always our goal. We're excited to keep Brandin in a Rams uniform through 2023," Rams head coach Sean McVay said.
The Rams acquired Cooks via trade with the New England Patriots in April after trading a first-round pick and a sixth-round selection in exchange for the wide receiver and a fourth-rounder. It also marked the second time in Cooks' young career to be moved, having traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Patriots last offseason.
Great Signing By The Rams
Cooks was entering the final year of his rookie deal in which he is set to make $8.459 million in 2018. The 2014 first-round pick had a career-best season last year, averaging 16.6 yards per catch, which is ranked seventh in the NFL.
The former New Orleans Saint has proven to be a dangerous threat on the offensive end, registering 1,000 yards and at least seven touchdowns in each of the last three years. Cooks is just one of the five players in the NFL with an active streak of at least three consecutive years with 1,000-plus receiving yards.
During the 2017 season with the Patriots, Cooks finished with an incredible stat line of 65 receptions on top of 1,082 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. Overall, the 24-year-old Cooks has career numbers of 280 receptions, 3,943 receiving yards, and 27 touchdowns.
What's Next For The Rams?
The Rams hope that the offensive tenacity of Cooks can make up for the loss of Watkins, whom the team decided to let go in free agency. Cooks is set to join forces with Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp in the wide receiving end.
After re-signing Cooks, NFL writer Kevin Patra believes that the Rams should shift their attention on signing quarterback Jared Goff and Todd Gurley into long-term deals. Besides boosting their offense, Patra added that the Rams should also strengthen their defense by signing Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald.
© Copyright 2024 Sports World News, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
