Brandin Cooks’ value to Rams goes beyond catching passes

The Los Angeles Rams acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks to be another difference-making component to their explosive passing game.

They are likely to get much more.

‘I hope to come in with Jared and just to let him know some of those great things that they did’

Cooks, who joined the Rams April 3 in a trade that saw them send first- and sixth-round draft picks to the New England Patriots for the receiver and a fourth-round choice, has been around two of the greatest quarterbacks in the game. And Cooks fully intends to take all that he absorbed from the Patriots’ Tom Brady and the New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees and transfer it to the Rams’ Jared Goff.

“Being with a guy like Drew and Tom and seeing how they go about the game and their professionalism, and their hunger to be great, and seeing that as a young guy and then molding that into me, I hope to come in with Jared and just to let him know some of those great things that they did,” Cooks told Cole Wright and James Lofton to the SiriusXM Blitz. “But at the end of the day, he’s making himself into who he is and he’s doing a really good job of it, so I’m just hoping I can help him in a way that’s set on that and he helps me, vice versa, and grow young together and do it for a really long time.”

‘He’s got so much respect for me not just sending me anywhere but got me on a team that he believes that I can succeed at’

Cooks appreciated the opportunity he had to spend last season with the Patriots and be part of another of their Super Bowl runs. He’s even more appreciative that, via the trade, they put him on a team that gives him the chance to have more success.

“It’s a blessing,” Cooks said. “It’s one of those things that, you look at the Patriots, I have so much respect for Coach Bill (Belichick) and (director of player personnel) Nick (Caserio) and the Kraft family and my teammates. It’s one of those things that, hey, the opportunity that they had to be able to receive a first-round pick for their team will look great for them and at the end of the day, he’s got so much respect for me not just sending me anywhere but got me on a team that he believes that I can succeed at.

‘Look, the proof is in the pudding’

“It’s a win-win situation for both parties. And they just handle things a little different over there and I’ve got a ton of respect for (Belichick). And, look, the proof is in the pudding. They’re winning, so you can’t question that at all.”

Cooks only has one season remaining on his contract, so he’ll be seeking another deal. Does he envision signing one with the Rams?

‘I’m just looking to come in with my head down, doing what I have to do and let everything take care of itself’

“Honestly, I leave that to Coach (Sean) McVay, (General Manager) Les (Sneak) and my agent, Ryan Tollner,” he said. “I trust them completely to be able to get what’s done for both parties. I’m just looking to come in with my head down, doing what I have to do and let everything take care of itself.”