Should LA Rams add to backfield and trade for 49ers RB Matt Breida?

The LA Rams need a veteran running back with the release of Todd Gurley. Should the team try to trade for 49ers RB Matt Breida?

The last place you might expect the LA Rams to shop for a player to help the team would be a division rival. Particularly if the aid to help the Rams came in the form of a trade.  Who could possibly help the Rams? None other than San Francisco 49ers’ running back Matt Breida. Yes, the same running back who was one of the three running backs who helped push the 49ers into the playoffs in 2019.

And he is the same player the 49ers tendered a 2nd round qualifying offer to on the off-season. But the 49ers may be willing to part ways with Breida this off-season, at least that is the belief of NBC Sports writer Matt Maiocco, who covers Bay Area sports, including the 49ers. When a reader posed a question about the future of Breida, Maiocco responded:

"“Matt Breida did not have a role on offense to end the season. The club placed a second-round tender on him as a restricted free agent, but I’m sure the 49ers would be willing to trade his rights for lower-round draft pick. Right now, Breida is most-likely to find himself on another team to open the season.” – Matt Maiocco, NBC Sports"

So the question is, with a deep draft, why would the LA Rams trade to a rival? Well, the Rams are not exactly known for their conventional methods, particularly when it comes to building the roster. That is amplified this year, where nothing is conventional any longer. So the Rams may want to hedge their bets, particularly if the team has competing interests with limited draft picks.

Perhaps more importantly, the Rams do not have a 200 plus carry running back on the roster today. Malcolm Brown has endurance but does not have the production. Darrell Henderson has the production but does not have the endurance.  And the 2020 NFL Draft may have prospects with both characteristics, but are untested and have no NFL experience.

It would be wise for the LA Rams to enter the draft without a question mark at running back, particularly since the team’s offense is so run driven. Right now, the primary hold up is the Rams finding funds to pay for any new player.

The Rams do not have many draft picks to deal with, so the only picks in play today would be the sixth or seventh-rounder. And unfortunately, if a sixth-round pick does not get it done, then the Rams would walk away.

But stick a pin in this one. The LA Rams have plenty of assets that they would be willing to part with after the draft. And if the team is not happy with their rookies, they may package a 2021 draft pick and/or a young offensive lineman to the 49ers for Breida.