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4 trade targets the Rams should consider pursuing
http://theramswire.usatoday.com/201...de-targets-the-rams-should-consider-pursuing/
By: Jake Ellenbogen | 8 hours ago
The Los Angeles Rams are getting ready to kick off season No. 50 as the Los Angeles-based team. What better way to kick off the next 50 years than with a trade, right?
While trades in the NFL don’t happen nearly as often as they do in other professional sports, it’s still fun to talk about potential deals. Let’s take a look at a few players the Rams could potentially target.
Alshon Jeffery
If you didn’t already know, the Rams basically handed Alshon Jeffery on a silver platter to the Chicago Bears in 2012 when they traded Chicago the pick with which he was selected. In return, the Rams acquired the No. 150 overall selection, which would become Rokevious Watkins, who is no longer with the team, or in the league.
The Rams drafted Brian Quick instead of Jeffery at No. 33 overall. All jokes aside, Quick still remains on the roster and hasn’t even accumulated 1,000 yards receiving total over his five years in the NFL. Jeffery has had two seasons in which he has racked up more yards than Quick’s career total.
Ouch.
The Bears ended up placing the franchise tag on Jeffery this offseason, which protected him from free agency. Fortunately for teams like the Rams, that doesn’t mean he and the Bears will strike a long-term deal, which makes him a prime trade target.
The Rams have Jeffery’s former wide receivers coach Mike Groh and wouldn’t have an issue making room for Jeffery in their group of wideouts. Not only that, but the idea of playing with Todd Gurley, rookie Jared Goff and alongside of Tavon Austin is actually pretty enticing, especially since Jeffery would almost certainly step in and be the No. 1 wideout on the roster.
To make matters even more realistic, it was reported by Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole that a long-term deal between the Bears and Jeffery is unlikely.
Luke Joeckel
Unlike the Jeffery, the Rams didn’t have a chance at drafting Luke Joeckel. Considered a top-two tackle prospect in 2013, he was drafted accordingly, going No. 2 overall.
Unfortunately for Joeckel, injuries have caused him to miss 13 games in his young career. No one truly knows why he has continued to struggle though. He could be a bust, he could be the wrong fit for the Jaguars or maybe it was just that his injuries hurt his development.
The Rams are no stranger to delving into the trade market for players who some consider busts, specifically when they traded for Mark Barron in 2014. The Rams have Greg Robinson at left tackle and Rob Havenstein at right tackle, but Barron didn’t come in and start right away after the Rams acquired him. He developed a role over time, just like Joeckel would have to do if he came to Los Angeles.
If you happen to be on the bandwagon of acquiring the former second overall pick, you are in luck. The Jaguars declined to pick up Joeckel’s fifth-year option as Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk reported. This makes him a free agent after this year and most likely trade bait. The free agent addition of ex-Steelers lineman Kelvin Beachum likely pushes Joeckel out of the future plans for the Jaguars.
Sounds like a perfect chance for the Rams to swoop in and buy low on the 24-year-old out of Texas A&M.
Dee Milliner
Perhaps the one trade target that will get a collective eye roll is Milliner, but bear with me here. I’m a fan of Milliner, and I think he needs a change of scenery. This could be another opportunity for the Rams to revitalize a former first-round talent’s career.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported that Milliner was receiving some trade buzz, and while he isn’t untouchable, trading for him wouldn’t be cheap for a potential suitor. It’s hard to imagine what type of offer the New York Jets would accept in a deal for Milliner. My guess would be a third-round pick at most.
Before anyone thinks I am not a fan of the cornerbacks on the Rams roster, I’ll clarify. I really like, and believe in, the team’s current corners, but think about it in the grand scheme for a minute. The Rams were looking to bring back Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, but after Jenkins left, the team showed interested in Sean Smith, who they didn’t get. Clearly, the Rams wouldn’t shy away from another physical cornerback at this point.
Milliner’s option, like that of Joeckel, was not picked up and he will be a free agent in 2017. The Rams should strike while the iron is hot and the Jets are skeptical about his future with the team. Or, they could always wait until he’s a free agent and try to make a move then, but the Jets would be smart to attempt to move him before they just let him walk next offseason.
Darian Stewart
I don’t believe I will ever understand why the Rams let this guy walk away. Not only that, they preferred starting journeyman safety Craig Dahl over him. Enough talk about that — anyway, the newly-crowned Super Bowl champion has really carved out a role for himself with the Denver Broncos.
Stewart will be a free agent next season and Broncos fans surely want to see him get an extension. The hard-hitting Stewart found his home at free safety alongside T.J. Ward, the same position the Rams attempting to fill this offseason.
Stewart’s asking price on a new deal may be too much for the Broncos, which would result in him likely moving on after the 2016 season. The Broncos are going to need to save their money to keep Von Miller in town, and with the extension to Brandon Marshall, it makes it even more unlikely Stewart will be re-signed this season.
Which, of course, could mean he is traded away if they feel like they can’t bring him back after this season. Could Stewart be back in a Rams uniform? Well, probably not, but should the Rams trade for him if the opportunity presents itself? Absolutely.
http://theramswire.usatoday.com/201...de-targets-the-rams-should-consider-pursuing/
By: Jake Ellenbogen | 8 hours ago
The Los Angeles Rams are getting ready to kick off season No. 50 as the Los Angeles-based team. What better way to kick off the next 50 years than with a trade, right?
While trades in the NFL don’t happen nearly as often as they do in other professional sports, it’s still fun to talk about potential deals. Let’s take a look at a few players the Rams could potentially target.
Alshon Jeffery
If you didn’t already know, the Rams basically handed Alshon Jeffery on a silver platter to the Chicago Bears in 2012 when they traded Chicago the pick with which he was selected. In return, the Rams acquired the No. 150 overall selection, which would become Rokevious Watkins, who is no longer with the team, or in the league.
The Rams drafted Brian Quick instead of Jeffery at No. 33 overall. All jokes aside, Quick still remains on the roster and hasn’t even accumulated 1,000 yards receiving total over his five years in the NFL. Jeffery has had two seasons in which he has racked up more yards than Quick’s career total.
Ouch.
The Bears ended up placing the franchise tag on Jeffery this offseason, which protected him from free agency. Fortunately for teams like the Rams, that doesn’t mean he and the Bears will strike a long-term deal, which makes him a prime trade target.
The Rams have Jeffery’s former wide receivers coach Mike Groh and wouldn’t have an issue making room for Jeffery in their group of wideouts. Not only that, but the idea of playing with Todd Gurley, rookie Jared Goff and alongside of Tavon Austin is actually pretty enticing, especially since Jeffery would almost certainly step in and be the No. 1 wideout on the roster.
To make matters even more realistic, it was reported by Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole that a long-term deal between the Bears and Jeffery is unlikely.
Luke Joeckel
Unlike the Jeffery, the Rams didn’t have a chance at drafting Luke Joeckel. Considered a top-two tackle prospect in 2013, he was drafted accordingly, going No. 2 overall.
Unfortunately for Joeckel, injuries have caused him to miss 13 games in his young career. No one truly knows why he has continued to struggle though. He could be a bust, he could be the wrong fit for the Jaguars or maybe it was just that his injuries hurt his development.
The Rams are no stranger to delving into the trade market for players who some consider busts, specifically when they traded for Mark Barron in 2014. The Rams have Greg Robinson at left tackle and Rob Havenstein at right tackle, but Barron didn’t come in and start right away after the Rams acquired him. He developed a role over time, just like Joeckel would have to do if he came to Los Angeles.
If you happen to be on the bandwagon of acquiring the former second overall pick, you are in luck. The Jaguars declined to pick up Joeckel’s fifth-year option as Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk reported. This makes him a free agent after this year and most likely trade bait. The free agent addition of ex-Steelers lineman Kelvin Beachum likely pushes Joeckel out of the future plans for the Jaguars.
Sounds like a perfect chance for the Rams to swoop in and buy low on the 24-year-old out of Texas A&M.
Dee Milliner
Perhaps the one trade target that will get a collective eye roll is Milliner, but bear with me here. I’m a fan of Milliner, and I think he needs a change of scenery. This could be another opportunity for the Rams to revitalize a former first-round talent’s career.
Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reported that Milliner was receiving some trade buzz, and while he isn’t untouchable, trading for him wouldn’t be cheap for a potential suitor. It’s hard to imagine what type of offer the New York Jets would accept in a deal for Milliner. My guess would be a third-round pick at most.
Before anyone thinks I am not a fan of the cornerbacks on the Rams roster, I’ll clarify. I really like, and believe in, the team’s current corners, but think about it in the grand scheme for a minute. The Rams were looking to bring back Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, but after Jenkins left, the team showed interested in Sean Smith, who they didn’t get. Clearly, the Rams wouldn’t shy away from another physical cornerback at this point.
Milliner’s option, like that of Joeckel, was not picked up and he will be a free agent in 2017. The Rams should strike while the iron is hot and the Jets are skeptical about his future with the team. Or, they could always wait until he’s a free agent and try to make a move then, but the Jets would be smart to attempt to move him before they just let him walk next offseason.
Darian Stewart
I don’t believe I will ever understand why the Rams let this guy walk away. Not only that, they preferred starting journeyman safety Craig Dahl over him. Enough talk about that — anyway, the newly-crowned Super Bowl champion has really carved out a role for himself with the Denver Broncos.
Stewart will be a free agent next season and Broncos fans surely want to see him get an extension. The hard-hitting Stewart found his home at free safety alongside T.J. Ward, the same position the Rams attempting to fill this offseason.
Stewart’s asking price on a new deal may be too much for the Broncos, which would result in him likely moving on after the 2016 season. The Broncos are going to need to save their money to keep Von Miller in town, and with the extension to Brandon Marshall, it makes it even more unlikely Stewart will be re-signed this season.
Which, of course, could mean he is traded away if they feel like they can’t bring him back after this season. Could Stewart be back in a Rams uniform? Well, probably not, but should the Rams trade for him if the opportunity presents itself? Absolutely.
