Los Angeles sent Brandin Cooks and a 2022 fourth-round pick…
Los Angeles sent Brandin Cooks and a 2022 fourth-round pick to Houston for the No. 57 selection in the 2020 draft, which became wide receiver Van Jefferson. Cooks gave the Texans two 1,000-yard seasons before another trade, while Jefferson became a regular contributor for the Rams and topped 800 yards during their Super Bowl LVI championship season. Both clubs realized meaningful value.
Houston Texans Received
- player Brandin Cooks
- pick 2022 4th round pick (137th overall subsequently traded, Bailey Zappe )
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 2020 2nd round pick (57th overall, Van Jefferson)
Trade Analysis
What Changed Hands
Houston sent the 57th pick to Los Angeles for Brandin Cooks and a 2022 fourth-round selection. The Rams then used No. 57 on Florida receiver Van Jefferson. Houston was buying an established starting receiver, while Los Angeles was moving salary and converting a veteran into a younger, cheaper player without having a first-round pick that year.
Why the Value Separated
Both primary assets delivered. Cooks posted consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons in Houston and remained a high-volume target before the Texans later moved him to Dallas. Jefferson developed into a regular Rams starter and had his best season during the 2021 title run, finishing that regular season with more than 800 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
How the Deal Aged
The future fourth-rounder prevents this from being a simple player-for-player comparison. Houston received the established receiver plus additional draft capital, while Los Angeles gained cost control and a younger contributor at the same position. Jefferson never became the caliber of receiver Cooks already was, but he supplied useful production on a championship roster at a far cheaper stage of his career.
Final Verdict
An even result fits the full record. Houston got exactly the kind of immediate receiving production it sought, and Los Angeles successfully turned an expensive veteran into a second-round contributor who helped a Super Bowl team. Neither side extracted a franchise-altering advantage, but both achieved important roster goals. Matching B+ grades recognize strong, tangible returns on different timelines. The grade also accounts for acquisition cost, length of useful service, positional importance, and whether later draft movement created tangible roster value rather than merely theoretical capital.