Can LA Rams stretch the field with Bengals WR John Ross III?

Let’s talk trade

With the Bengals prepared to opt-out of Ross’s fifth-year contract option, the asking price cannot be more than a day three pick. In fact, the Bengals are in the midst of a rebuild, and freeing up snaps for the incoming Class of 2020 rookies would be almost like a salary cap dump to their plans.

Of course, the only reason to do this trade hinges upon the Rams parting ways with Brandin Cooks and landing some 2020 NFL Draft picks. If that never takes place, neither will the Rams interest in asking about the availability of Ross.

Assuming the prerequisites are met. The Rams would be okay to offer the Bengals a 2020 sixth-round pick and to cut that cost, would likely ask for a seventh-round pick in 2021. That would leave the team five 2020 picks, plus whatever the team might acquire in trading away Cooks.  What would that trade look like?

The Rams make this trade in an attempt to land a speedy replacement for outgoing (and very expensive) wide receiver Brandin Cooks. The Bengals make this trade to part ways with disappointing wide receiver John Ross, clear the offense for new wide receivers to get snaps, free up some cap space, and add a 2020 NFL Draft pick which could land the team a significant contributor.

This trade scenario is admittedly not ideal. There is a deep WR crop in the 2020 NFL Draft class. But the Rams needs are specific in this case, a deep threat to stretch the field. Few players in the NFL possess the type of speed to emulate the deep threat of Brandin Cooks. John Ross III is one such player.