The Buccaneers made a splash in free agency by signing quarterback Tom Brady, according to multiple reports, but they apparently aren't done yet.
I'm told the #Buccaneers are not done. the Todd Gurley buzz has some reality to it...and the team is looking for a speed WR to go along with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Brandin Cooks? Robby Anderson? Denzel Mims in the draft? @1043TheFan
— Cecil Lammey (@CecilLammey) March 18, 2020
Lammey's report connects Gurley and Cooks to the Bucs, but it's not the only report worth monitoring. NFL Media's Michael Silver reported earlier this week that the Rams were looking to trade both Gurley and Cooks. While both players are star talents, the Rams need cap space and draft picks, so moving these two would make some sense.
Gurley's contract isn't team friendly. He's signed through the 2023 season with a cap hit of $17.25 million in 2020, and it only slightly improves in future years at $13.2 million (2021), $14.2 million (2022) and about $12.5 million (2023).
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This makes Tampa Bay an ideal trade partner for the Rams as the Bucs have plenty of cap space to work with in 2020. The Bucs could also use a star running back on the roster after the trio of Ronald Jones, Peyton Barber and Dare Ogunbowale combined to give the Bucs the ninth-worst rushing attack in the NFL last season.
But while Gurley and Cooks each are big names, they also had down years in 2019, making their current market value fairly low (especially with their contracts).
- Gurley: 15 games played, 857 rushing yards, 3.8 ypc in 2019
- Cooks: 14 games played, 42 receptions, 583 receiving yards, 2 TD in 2019
Still, the addition of both would be upgrades for the Bucs, should they go that route. And based on recent social media activity by Gurley and Cooks, it seems like they'd be on board with a deal.
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Todd Gurley's social media activity
Gurley posts excitement for Brady going to Tampa Bay
TB12 🐐 https://t.co/wLVS58XZjB
— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) March 18, 2020
Gurley posts pic with Cooks on Instagram after rumors start
Gurley likes tweet mentioning him and Brady
Brandin Cooks' social media activity
Reposts Gurley's IG story featuring them both
Likes tweet about a Tom Brady reunion
What does this mean for Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks' future?
As Silver reported, it's highly likely they both get traded at some point this offseason, even if they're separate deals. The Rams want to move on from Gurley's contract, and seem fine moving forward with Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson Jr. (a third-round draft pick from 2019). As for Cooks, his production was low last season and the Rams have a number of great receiving threats in Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett and even Josh Reynolds.
Both players seem on board with joining Brady in Tampa Bay, as their social media activity indicates, but that doesn't necessarily mean that's where they're headed. If the Bucs are in the market for an every-down running back and a speedy receiver, though, then it only makes sense to make some sort of trade happen for Gurley and Cooks.
Cooks only played one season with Brady, but it was a successful one. He finished with a 65-1082-7 line in 2017.
