The Rams are unlikely to trade any key players before the deadline, but here are five possibilities.
theramswire.usatoday.com
The 2020 trade deadline is on the same day as Election Day, with all deals in the NFL needing to be made by 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 3. The Rams have been aggressive in recent years at the deadline, acquiring players such as Dante Fowler Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Austin Corbett.
We’ve already laid out possible trade targets for L.A. if Les Snead is looking to add help to the roster, but let’s now look at some possible trade chips the Rams could ship out of town. To be clear, none of these players are likely to be traded, but if the Rams are in search of draft capital or maybe a player-for-player trade, they could possibly be dealt.
WR Josh Reynolds
This is less about what Reynolds has or hasn’t done and more about the lack of snaps for Van Jefferson. In the last five games, Jefferson has two catches for 22 yards and has played a total of 35 snaps. For comparison, Reynolds played 53 snaps alone in Week 7 against the Bears.
Reynolds has played well this season, catching 18 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, but Jefferson has shown potential, too. There simply aren’t enough opportunities to go around in a crowded receiver room. The Rams will most likely let Reynolds leave in the offseason when his contract expires, promoting Jefferson to a starting role, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to recoup a draft pick for Reynolds now and give Jefferson more playing time in his rookie season. It’s hard to imagine the Rams getting more than a fourth- or fifth-round pick for Reynolds, though.
RB Malcolm Brown
For the same reasons the Rams might consider trading Reynolds, they might also think about dealing Brown. He’ll also be a free agent in 2021 and he, too, is blocking a rookie from playing. Brown has done a nice job behind Darrell Henderson but his presence has all but eliminated Cam Akers’ role. Trading Brown would not only give Henderson more chances as the starter, but also give Akers additional snaps, which will help his development.
It’s all but certain that the Rams will let Brown walk in free agency this coming offseason, opening the door for Akers in 2021, but why not give the rookie more chances now? He’s shown flashes of potential, it’s just that there’s only one football to go around for three running backs.
CB Troy Hill
The Rams’ secondary is playing really well right now, with Hill improving after a difficult start. He’s gotten better since playing outside more often than in the slot, but he’s still allowing a completion rate of 78.3%. The Rams probably won’t want to break up the chemistry they’ve found in the secondary, but 2019 third-round pick David Long Jr. is waiting in the wings.
He’s barely played this season and trading away Hill would get him on the field sooner and more often. That’s not to say he’d be an upgrade over Hill, but the Rams have to get something out of Long at some point. He was sticky in coverage in college and should be able to hold up outside in the NFL. This is a real long shot to happen, but you never know with the Rams. They offloaded Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib at the deadline last year.
TE Gerald Everett
Everett’s name always comes up when discussing possible trade chips for the Rams, and this year is no different.
It was even reported in September that the Rams got calls about Everett’s availability but declined them. When healthy, Tyler Higbee is the starter at tight end. Johnny Mundt showed he can be more than just a blocker against the Bears, and Brycen Hopkins was essentially drafted to replace Everett in 2021 and beyond.
Everett could probably net the Rams a mid-round pick and help a team in need of a pass-catching tight end, but that may not be enough to warrant a trade by L.A. He has a role on offense and there’s no guarantee that Mundt or Hopkins would be able to replace his production on the field. In all likelihood, the Rams will probably hold onto Everett for the rest of the season and take the compensatory pick that he’ll net them by leaving in free agency.
DL Sebastian Joseph-Day
Joseph-Day has been the Rams’ starting nose tackle the last two years and there’s been no word that he’s on the move. However, the Rams were clearly not content with him coming into 2020 as the starter after signing A’Shawn Robinson and then bringing back Michael Brockers.
Well, Robinson is set to return this week and Brockers is playing well, which means Joseph-Day’s role will be limited moving forward. The Rams also have Greg Gaines and Morgan Fox in the rotation, so they don’t lack defensive line depth – and that’s without even mentioning Aaron Donald.
Joseph-Day won’t get the Rams much in return, but if he’s also not going to play much at all, something is better than nothing – especially for a team in need of draft capital.
