LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss details the multiple factors behind why the Patriots traded Brandin Cooks, beginning with economics.
- Karen Guregan says the Brandin Cooks trade gives the Patriots good value and great flexibility in the draft.
- Tom E. Curran mentions two examples from the Super Bowl — Cooks’ weird decision-making and Brady’s productivity without him — to help explain the trade and why the Patritos came out ahead.
- Doug Kyed analyzes what the surprising Brandin Cooks trade means for the Patriots in 2018 and beyond.
- Ryan Hannable points out the fallout from Brandin Cooks trade isn’t Odell Beckham Jr. or stud QB, it’s having loaded draft board.
- Doug Kyed wonders how high the Pats could move up in the draft after this trade.
- Mike D’Abate (FullPressCoverage) Analysis: Patriots trade Cooks to Rams for first-rounder.
- Ryan Hannable looks at what the Brandin Cooks trade means for the Pats this season.
- Matthew Geagan offers his take on everything the Brandin Cooks trade means for the Pats.
- Ryan Hannable notes Adam Schefter on WEEI this morning says he believes the Patriots will take a QB high in the draft.
- Mike Reiss breaks down the WR depth chart after the Cooks trade. Reiss does not believe this means the Patriots have a pressing need to add another top-of-the-line WR.
- Zack Cox addresses whether the Pats should now pick a receiver in the draft.
- DJ Bean ranks the Patriots first round draft picks under Bill Belichick.
- Ryan Hannable passes along a report of ‘Tom Brady not sad’ about the Brandin Cooks trade even though Brady had nothing but praise for him the week of the Super Bowl.
- Ian Logue (PatsFans) Wednesday Patriots Notebook: Another huge trade is made, Gilmore not happy about it.
- Ryan Hannable relays Adam Schefter that Rob Gronkowski isn’t, and wasn’t ever getting traded this offseason.
- Steve Buckley explains why Rob Gronkowski isn’t so special that Bill Belichick wouldn’t trade him... even though he probably won’t.
- Alex Reimer says the tension between Rob Gronkowski and the Patriots is nothing new.
- Michael Hurley calls for someone to solve the Belichick-Brady-Gronkowski problem.
- Tzupes (WTPSports) No Patriots fans, you don’t want Odell Beckham, Jr.
- Ryan Hannable reports on where Dante Scarnecchia has been spotted lately and which players he’s been working out.
- Dakota Randall highlights Matt Patricia on Adam Schefter’s podcast discussing a variety of topics, including admitting that he’s still bothered by the Super Bowl loss. /Feeling’s mutual, Matt.
- DJ Bean notes the Oakland Athletics Twitter account weirdly decided to promote last night’s Red Sox game with a deflategate joke. /It fell flat.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) Winners, losers from Brandin Cooks trade: Patriots have options.
- Peter King (SI) Brandin Cooks trade: On Rams, Patriots, Giants, draft; MMQB Mailbag.
- Andy Benoit (SI) Rams trade for Brandin Cooks (in case you didn’t really believe they were all-in.)
- Danny Heifetz (The Ringer) Trading for Brandin Cooks shows the Rams are all in. “The Patriots’ offseason looks like a disaster ... but doubting Bill Belichick is a felony in Massachusetts.” /Uh, no, that’s actually what fuels sports talk radio.
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Brandin Cooks trade fallout: Move up for Brady heir? Chase Beckham? Patriots have options.
- Chris Trapasso (CBS Sports) Brandin Cooks traded: Players Patriots could be targeting at No. 23 in 2018 NFL Draft.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Brandin Cooks and Pats couldn’t agree on extension last year.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Pats now have plenty of ammunition to move up for a quarterback.
- Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Could Pats now make a move for OBJ?
- Mike Greenberg (ESPN) Belichick making room for OBJ? (1.29 min. video)
- John Breech (CBS Sports) Here’s how the Brandin Cooks trade will reportedly affect Rob Gronkowski’s future.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Report: No trade talks involving Rob Gronkowski. /So... what about yesterday’s reports about multiple teams preparing offers???
- Dan Graziano (ESPN) Ranking the NFL teams most likely to trade up to draft a QB. Patriots included.
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Mike Zimmer: In-game video takes “true coaching skills away”.