Should the Rams explore moving Van Jefferson?

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Should the Rams explore moving Van Jefferson?

Should LA move Jefferson as he enters his contract year?

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Should the Rams explore moving Van Jefferson?​

Back in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Rams used the 57th overall pick to select Van Jefferson out of the University of Florida. Jefferson, the son of former NFL receiver and current NFL receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, was a very polished prospect due to being raised by a father that played the position at the highest level.

Through three total seasons with the Rams, Jefferson has logged 93 receptions for 1,391 yards and 10 touchdowns. Most of those numbers came in his second season with the team, the year the Rams won the Super Bowl, as he tallied 50 receptions for 6 touchdowns after establishing himself as a downfield threat for the squad.

However, following a nagging knee injury that kept him out of a majority of training camp and the first six games of the season, Van Jefferson took a step back in production. Not only that, but he seemed to get outshined a little bit even after both Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson went down with injuries, as both Tutu Atwell and Ben Skowronek stepped up to the plate and proved they were capable of making noise at the position.

With that being said, Van Jefferson is now entering his final year of his rookie contract with the Rams, meaning he will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2023-2024 NFL season. Unless Jefferson has some sort of ridiculous season next year, I cannot see a world where the Rams would re-sign him, allowing Jefferson to seek the best deal possible elsewhere.

But, should the Rams let Jefferson walk for a late-round compensatory pick? Or, should the Rams try to move Jefferson for, let’s say, a third round or even a fourth round selection prior to the 2023-2024 season? Maybe they can even get a player for Jefferson instead of a pick but, regardless, the Rams should find a way to move on from Jefferson, and here is why:

BENNY SKOW AND TUTU EMERGENCE

Let’s be honest, no one expected 2021 7th round pick Ben Skowronek to be anything more than a depth piece/special teamer. However, Skowronek was forced to step into some big games in his rookie year, showing that he is capable of being a serviceable player in this league. Then, in 2022, Skowronek became a starter when he filled in for Van Jefferson early in the year, posting 23 receptions for 221 yards and a touchdown, stepping in nicely for an injured Jefferson.

Then, as the season progressed, Tutu Atwell finally got involved, averaging 78.2% of the offensive snaps in the final five games of last season. In those contests combined, Atwell had 12 receptions for 111 yards receiving along with a rushing touchdown, showing he’s fully capable of becoming an integral part of the L.A. offensive attack.

In my opinion, it makes sense for the Rams to at least explore moving on from Jefferson, especially considering the way Skowronek and Atwell stepped up last season. What do you folks think, should the Rams explore trading Van Jefferson?

 

[Riverumbbq]

LOL. I've been trying to trade Van Jefferson since my first 2023 mock back on November 9'th of last year, ... and every mock I've made after.

 

[Malibu]

Depends on what's being offered. Me personally I would not move him unless we get a 2 even if we have to throw in some draft pick.

My reasoning is he is valuable to some team like the Giants maybe. There are a couple perfect picks on 5he top half of the 2nd round that will really help us. Still pissed we didn't get a 2nd for Ramsey. I do not want to pay him a new contract he is not worth it imo versus what it will cost.

 

[Stl2La]

Depends on what's being offered. Me personally I would not move him unless we get a 2 even if we have to throw in some draft pick.

My reasoning is he is valuable to some team like the Giants maybe. There are a couple perfect picks on 5he top half of the 2nd round that will really help us. Still pissed we didn't get a 2nd for Ramsey. I do not want to pay him a new contract he is not worth it imo versus what it will cost.

There is no way in hell we can get a 2nd round pick for a soon to be free agent WR that hasn’t done much of anything. We can dream though.

 

[Ram Ts]

Maybe a 3rd. Any team trading for him will get a good comp pick (4th likely) - if they don’t extend him. That’s why I don’t trade him unless we’re getting good value. Comparable to Lazard.

 

[OldSchool]

Not if ShitShowTimes thinks we should

 

[den-the-coach]

Lets keep Van, IMO, he is ready for a breakout year. Besides he's cheap and right now that is a good option for the Los Angeles Rams.

Stan By Your Van!

 

[Flatlyner]

I'm not even picking up the phone unless the offer is a 3rd. We don't need to create another hole on the team unless being compensated enough to replace him directly. As other said, he's likely to net a 4th next offseason and, if he balls out this year, perhaps more.

 

[AvengerRam]

No. He has talent, and he’s on his rookie deal. Keep him.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I move both Higbee & Van Jefferson for 2 additional 2023 draft picks & the CAP space it opens, I'd even throw in 2024 middle round picks to seal the deal and garner higher picks. They both become free agents after the upcoming season, let's get what we can out of them. We have other WR's and TE's which should be developed, and we are likely to draft at those positions others who need playing time.
I'd also make Noteboom & Allen Robinson available at the trade deadline if they have sufficiently rehabbed their football reputations.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Trade? Just cut him like they did everyone else.

 

[Loyal]

Folks are determined to make us an expansion team....

 

[thirteen28]

I've never understood the dogpile on Van. He's a decent WR and a good deep threat for us. I don't totally fault him for the drop in production last year given that everybody's production dropped when our OL began to resemble a field hospital on the Western Front of WWI. When he and we were healthy in 2021, he took the top off of more than one D for us. Keep him, hope he breaks out, and we can get the comp pick next year when he moves on.

 

[Loyal]

I've never understood the dogpile on Van. He's a decent WR and a good deep threat for us. I don't totally fault him for the drop in production last year given that everybody's production dropped when our OL began to resemble a field hospital on the Western Front of WWI. When he and we were healthy in 2021, he took the top off of more than one D for us. Keep him, hope he breaks out, and we can get the comp pick next year when he moves on.

Plus, our QB's were getting slaughtered and there was little time for long routes to develop.

 

[PARAM]

No.

He had 50 receptions in 2021 as the #3 behind, Kupp, Woods/OBJ plus Higbee got a lot of touches and DJax was crying for the ball. He was dinged and hampered much of last year.

2021: Kupp 145, Woods/OBJ 72, Higbee 61, RBs 53 and VJ 50. That ain't bad for a #3.

 

[simonblaze]

I would, suffers a lot from nagging injuries and contract is almost up. I'd trade him at the deadline rather than him leave for nothing.

 

[dieterbrock]

Heck, I'd be more interested in extending him instead of getting rid of him.
As previously posted, in 2021, as a #3 WR, he outperformed most #2's in the league.

 

[Tumak61]

Dumb to trade him now. He's due for a breakout year, he's playing for a big check on his next deal. Turn him loose this season, take some deep shots with him and Atwell.

 

[Flatlyner]

I would, suffers a lot from nagging injuries and contract is almost up. I'd trade him at the deadline rather than him leave for nothing.

He won't be leaving for nothing with the comp pick formula (unless they go out and actually sign guys next year).

 

[snackdaddy]

Fans tend to over value their players. We got a 3rd rounder for Ramsey. We're not gonna get a day 2 pick if we trade Jefferson. He's on the final year of his affordable rookie deal. He's worth more to us than what we would get in return. Better to keep him unless we plan on tanking.