This Cowboys-Rams Trade for Brandin Cooks Makes Sense

The Los Angeles Rams are firmly entrenched in salary cap hell thanks to the massive deals they gave out to quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley. Things got even worse on Wednesday after the team signed 38-year-old offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth to a three-year, $30 million deal.

Now, the Rams have no choice but to try and get rid of some of their more burdensome financial commitments in order to free up cap space for an eventual Jalen Ramsey extension. The first name the Rams have put on the trading block is wide receiver Brandin Cooks. Considering that he carries a cap hit of $16.8 million for 2020, the Rams won't be able to net a top-round draft pick for him -- and that's why the Dallas Cowboys should come calling if they can put aside the cap space.

The Cowboys should conduct their due diligence on this potential deal. They signed wideout Amari Cooper to a five-year, $100 million extension, but lost Randall Cobb to free agency. Dallas has been linked to Emmanuel Sanders on the open market, but it's unknown if they'll be able to meet his asking price. All told, they could use one more target for Dak Prescott.

Dallas owns seven picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, with two of them coming in the fifth round. Considering Cooks is locked in until the conclusion of the 2023 season, the Cowboys can start by offering pick No. 179 in the fifth to acquire Cooks. Taking on his $16,8 million cap hit in 2020 would require additional moves, but the Rams would leap at any opportunity to offload that sum.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is looking to put the team over the edge to bring them to their first Super Bowl since 1996. Adding Cooks to the offense will help with that goal.