Playing in his second Super Bowl in as many years, Brandin Cooks has another chance for a ring but will he win it as a member of the Los Angeles Rams?
Despite a stellar regular season, no one thought the Los Angeles Rams would be off to Atlanta. Many guessed the New Orleans Saints, but the Rams defeated them in overtime — not without controversy, of course. The 2018 Rams are a lot different than their first year under Sean McVay and it’s clear in many ways. An obvious change has been the impressive moves the front office has made with their roster.
Defensively, the team is filled with studs that they added. But one name sticks out on offense and that’s wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Cooks has had an interesting NFL career thus far, landing with his third team in four years. Cooks started off spectacular in New Orleans before getting traded away to New England, but was then traded again to Los Angeles.
His time with the Saints was good but not enough for either side. While he was a good player, Cooks wasn’t happy and it showed. After drafting Michael Thomas, Cooks slowly became the second man to him. The team also finished 7-9 in those 3 seasons and failed to make a playoff appearance. Despite his connection with Drew Brees, Cooks and the Saints just didn’t work.
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Looking back at Super Bowl LII, Cooks could have been key in securing the win. It simply wasn’t meant to be, though. Cooks caught a 23-yard pass before sustaining a hard hit and left the game due to injury. It was terrible timing as the Patriots could have utilized Cooks in the remainder of the game. Either way, he was traded by early 2018.
Since then, all of the teams he’s played for have found success. As a member of the Rams, Cooks has become one of Goff’s favorite targets and an underrated weapon. He fit seamlessly into their offense and helped alleviate some of the sting of losing Cooper Kupp. While he did similar things for his previous teams, Cooks has a better chance of winning a ring in Los Angeles than anywhere else.
The Rams are a young team while the Saints and Patriots weren’t. They were already established, but the Rams needed a playmaker like Cooks. Goff and Cooks fostered a connection almost immediately and it showed. Looking back at their game against the Saints, Cooks made a huge play to continue their drive and it helped secure them the win.
In keeping with that same theme, Cooks was on both the Patriots and Saints so he knew about how they play. That insider knowledge could be the key to help to get a win over the Patriots. Cooks was quoted as saying being on the Patriots made him a smarter football player and now is time to prove that fact (per TheRams.com).
Even though Cooks seems to be fine with the trade, there’s always a little satisfaction getting revenge on a team who traded you. It seems petty, but it adds another layer to this narrative. For Cooks, this is more than a game. It’s a chance to show the Patriots that the Rams made the right decision in acquiring him.
The last reason Cooks will finally win a Super Bowl is because the Rams are arguably the stronger team. They came back from deficits against the Cowboys and Saints to win games. Cooks is just on one side of the ball but the defense and special teams have proven themselves every bit as valuable.
Heading into his second Super Bowl, it feels like Brandin Cooks’ time. Maybe the Rams won’t win. Even if they don’t, Cooks looks to have a found a home in Los Angeles and with it, the hope of returning to the Super Bowl.