Rams’ stance on trade rumors makes one thing clear about home-grown talent

At one point in time, it seemed that no NFL blockbuster trade was too big or too insane for Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead. The front office wanted to build a competitive roster, and the fastest way to accomplish that was to offer up risky draft picks for present-day game changers. For a long time, the strategy worked.

The team traded for OLB Dante Fowler, WR Brandin Cooks, OLB Von Miller, RB Sony Michel, IOL Austin Corbett, and even quarterback Matthew Stafford. It was a perfect strategy, as most NFL teams overvalued draft picks and undervalued former Pro Bowl and All-Pro veterans. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. And that happened in 2022.

The Rams roster was falling apart that year, riddled by injuries and short of playmakers. In a last-ditch effort, Snead tried to pry RB Christian McCaffrey and/or DE/OLB Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers for a king's ransom of draft picks. The Panthers declined both offers. That benign rejection altered the basic roster-building strategy of the team ever since.

Rams stay silent in trade talks, build their pass rush through the draft

With no McCaffrey, the offense turned to Kyren Williams. With no Brian Burns, they turned to Byron Young. The following year, the team doubled down on rookies by drafting Jared Verse and Brennan Jackson. And just like that, defense was restocked with passionate young pass rushers who specialized in a position LA never seems to have enough of.

Until now.

This is a group with a tremendous ceiling. Unlike in the past, there’s no automatic knee-jerk reaction to slot the Rams as one of the favored landing spots for a disgruntled pass rusher—even if that pass rusher happens to be All-Pro Cincinnati Bengals edge Trey Hendrickson.

That is not the case for multiple NFL teams, who are already rumored to have expressed earnest interest in acquiring the veteran per Jordan Schultz:

It’s not as though this team isn’t exploring ways to improve. They’ve been linked to rumors about trading for All-Pro defensive back Jalen Ramsey. But it feels like the front office’s heart isn’t in pushing a deal across the finish line. Sure, Hendrickson could help in 2025, but what about 2026? And will the Rams’ brass view his salary demands as reasonable?

Keep in mind that Young, Kobie Turner, and Steve Avila will be seeking their paydays. Is it wise for the team to gamble on an all-in transaction with so much uncertainty swirling around Stafford?

This is one rumor the team is better off avoiding. Until the quarterback situation is resolved, the Rams can’t afford to waste energy on side projects that may not even matter. There’s a time to gamble, but this isn’t it. As always, thanks for reading.