Rams may shop for roster help at these positions before the NFL trade deadline

When it comes to the Los Angeles Rams roster, the team appears to be relatively healthy and balanced. That translates into the team not having an urgent need to shop for reinforcements at the 2025 NFL Trade Deadline. That does not, however, mean that the team will be content to sit on the sidelines as other teams shop.

At 5-2, Los Angeles has accomplished what it could not since the 2021 NFL season. Success has not come easily, nor has it come early. But this season, that is not the case. Now the trick is to ensure that the team plays with the same intensity and urgency as the past two seasons to ensure that winning continues. To do that, reinforcements may be needed.

Where is this team overachieving? Where have injuries occurred? General manager Les Snead has to consider many factors as the NFL trade deadline nears. He is savvy enough to know that he needn't swing for the fences to improve the team. But if the opportunity to do crosses his path, all bets are off. So, which positions might Snead have added to his shopping list?

Snead may add roster help at these positions before NFL trade deadline

So, where might Los Angeles seek mid-season help? So glad you asked:

1. Cornerback

ESPN NFL insider Diana Russini lumps the Rams in

with the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, and Detroit Lions as NFL teams seeking cornerback help at the trade deadline. And that aligns with other NFL rumors reported about the team

. This defense has been playing well, so don't look for a tweak.

The chance to pry shutdown cornerback Sauce Gardner from a horrible New York Jets team is right up Les Snead's alley. The team already signed veteran cornerback Tre Brown. So if the team moves in that direction, don't be surprised if it's a headline move.

2. Offensive line

Los Angeles struggled with offensive line cohesion early, and that has shaken up the depth chart a bit. If the team cannot rely upon players, then moves to acquire reliable alternatives are a must. Right now, former starting center Beaux Limmer has been a healthy scratch. And starting veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein has been injured.

The depth can handle the chaos so far. But one more injury or disappointment will be one too many. Is a veteran offensive lineman an option at the trade deadline?

3. Wide receiver

It seems almost counterintuitive to suggest that the same team that has targeted wide receiver Tutu Atwell nine times in seven games could be shopping for wide receiver help, but both things can be true simultaneously. The offense has been powered by veteran wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams so far. Nacua is already banged up.

Yes, LA can win without its star receiver. But, for how long? Should the team add a veteran to help out through the final 10 games of the season? It makes sense to do so. The offense has been successful this season because it has added new dimensions to its strategy. Picking up one more weapon at the trade deadline could ensure nobody is unfairly burdened the rest of the way.

There is still time. Teams hammer out deals in back rooms, only to spring them on the NFL at the last possible moment. Will Les Snead be wheeling and dealing at the 2025 NFL trade deadline? Stay tuned and find out.

As always, thanks for reading.

The Good, Bad & Ugly from the Miami Dolphins Week 8 win over the Atlanta Falcons

Where have these Miami Dolphins been all season?!

The Miami Dolphins traveled to Atlanta, Georgia to take on the Falcons on Sunday, and for the first time this season, the boys in aqua and orange fully dominated their opponent, downing the Dirty Birds by a score of 34-10.

After Miami’s week seven loss to the lowly Cleveland Browns, many national analysts predicted a similar result against the 3-3 Falcons. However, Atlanta ruled out second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and top wide receiver Drake London ahead of their clash with the Dolphins, giving some fans hope that Miami could squeak out a victory for only the second time this season.

Well, they didn’t just squeak out a win, they rubbed the Falcons’ faces in the dirt en route to procuring a 24-point triumph.

Last week, the team didn’t earn themselves a “good” in my weekly Good, Bad & Ugly column, but this week, it was nothing but smooth sailing against Atlanta, so my column will reflect the big win.

GOOD

Tua Tagovailoa throws four touchdown passes in highly efficient outing

For the second straight week, Tua Tagovailoa was pulled in the fourth quarter of Miami’s game, however, this time it was for good reasons.

After throwing three interceptions in two consecutive games, Tagovailoa badly needed a good showing against the Falcons to re-instill hope that he could be the guy for Miami moving forward. While it’s still too early to proclaim the season saved, Miami’s 27-year-old signal-caller showed up and showed out against Atlanta — completing 20 of 26 attempts (76.9%) for an efficient 205 yards passing and four touchdown throws (138.6 passer rating). Oh, and he did all of that with just one working eye as he woke up on Sunday morning with swelling due to an allergic reaction.

While his day was a quality one, it was what he didn’t do that had Dolphins’ fans smiling ear to ear. Tied for the lead league in interceptions heading into week eight, Tagovailoa didn’t put the ball in harm’s way — finishing the game with zero turnovers. Miami will need more performances like the one Tagovailoa put on display against the Falcons if they are to continue to add notches to the win column as the 2025 season rolls on.

GOOD

Dolphins commit to ground game

During Mike McDaniel’s tenure as the Dolphins’ head coach, fans have rightly griped that the team’s playcalling relies far too heavily on the passing game most weeks. On Sunday against Atlanta, Miami passed the ball just 26 times while running the ball on a total of 37 plays.

Even though the Dolphins didn’t have a stellar yards per carry average when toting the rock — amassing just 141 yards on those 37 attempts for a 3.8 average — it was McDaniel’s commitment to the ground game that kept the Dolphins offense on schedule, allowing them to put 34 points on the board.

De’Von Achane led the way with 18 carries for 67 yards, but Miami’s rookie back — Ollie Gordon II — had 10 rushing attempts for 46 yards (4.6 yards per carry) while converting multiple short-yardage situations with his powerful legs. Even Jaylen Wright got in on the action — carrying the ball 9 times for 28 yards.

GREAT

Dolphins defense turns in tremendous effort

All season long, Miami’s defense has been a major liability — allowing teams to gain 363.1 yards per game on average. Well, against the Falcons, Miami’s defense stiffened up like an Egyptian mummy — allowing Atlanta to gain just 213 yards on Sunday.

No, the Falcons didn’t have their starting quarterback or their number one wide receiver, but they still had one of the best running backs in the National Football League in Bijan Robinson at their disposal. Miami was up to the challenge — allowing Robinson to gain just 25 yards rushing on 9 carries (2.8 yards per carry). As a team, the Falcons put up just 45 total yards on the ground — averaging just 2.6 yards per rush for the entire contest.

If Miami’s defense can continue to play like they did against the Falcons in week eight, they may put a few more wins on the board before the season concludes.

Sorry — not really — tanking fans.

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