Buffalo Bills: How does Stefon Diggs trade compare to recent WR trades?
Trades including Brandin Cooks
Brandin Cooks entered the league in 2014 with the New Orleans Saints and played three seasons. However, since 2017 he has been traded three times from the Saints to the New England Patriots, who traded him after only one season to the Los Angeles Rams.
He then spent two seasons with the Rams and was recently traded to the Houston Texans.
In the first two trades, from Saints to Patriots and then Patriots to Rams, the team acquiring Cooks sent a first round pick as well as an additional pick (Patriots sent a third, Rams sent a fourth).
The compensation wasn’t nearly as much what the Bills gave up in total picks but both times higher picks were sent. The contract was better considering he was still on his rookie deal.
In terms of production, Diggs and Cooks had very similar numbers with Diggs averaging 5.2 receptions, 66 receiving yards and .42 touchdowns per game. As for Cooks he averaged 5.1 receptions, 68 receiving yards and .47 touchdowns when he left New Orleans and 4.8 receptions, 67 receiving yards and .46 touchdowns per game after his time with the Patriots.
Recently, Cooks, along with a fourth round pick, was sent from the Rams to the Texans for a second round pick (57th overall). While it would be considered a wash in comparing the previous trades, this is one when compared that the Buffalo Bills would clearly win.
At this point in his career, Cooks has significant injury concerns with multiple concussions and is entering Year 2 of a five-year deal, worth $81 million dollars. While the two are the same in age, Diggs has surpassed Cooks in terms of production as the former Rams wide receivers per game averages dropped to 4.5 receptions, 65 receiving yards and .38 touchdowns per game.