The LA Rams might deal WR Brandin Cooks to one of these three teams before training camp begins

The LA Rams unceremoniously released Todd Gurley in order to squeeze more salary-cap space into the Rams’ future. It seems that Moneyball has quietly crept into the NFL. Is wide receiver Brandin Cooks the next Rams player to be dealt away, or simply sent packing?

Cooks was drafted 20th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. The Oregon State product played three seasons in New Orleans. He then moved as part of a 2017 trade, where he then played for New England.

Cooks has played 30 games for the LA Rams in two seasons. Over that time, he has caught 122 passes for 1787 yards with seven touchdowns. Despite modest production, Cooks gets a big paycheck.

His salary-cap number is $16.8 million for 2020. As far as the highest-paid Rams’ player? He moves up to the third place, after the release of RB ToddGurley, behind Jared Goff and Aaron Donald. Expect Les Snead to reach out to find a trade partner after June 1st.

Cooks dead cap number would be $4.8 million if he was dealt after June 1st. Would there be any teams willing to deal for him? Are there any WR-starved teams with available cap space?

Perhaps Tampa Bay would like to have Tom Brady reunite with his former receiver from 2017. Tampa has, according to spotrac.com, around $20 million available cap space. Anything can happen and generally does inside the NFL.

Here is the first trade package that allows LA to move Cooks.