7 trades to increase the LA Rams number of draft picks

Edgier edge

Yes, the LA Rams are in the market for an immediate impact contributor at the edge position in the 2021 NFL Draft. OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. The Rams currently have Justin Lawler (see above), Terrell Lewis, Justin Hollins, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, and Leonard Floyd.  Both Lawler and Obo’s contracts expire in 2022. It was obvious that the Rams defensive players are coveted by other NFL teams. So let’s leverage that value.

The Los Angeles Chargers need an edge rusher, and their head coach, Brandon Staley, knows that Ogbonnia Okoronkwo knows his defense. Not only know it but flourishes at it.  And the Chargers would be able to try out a starter for a year before they would need to decide whether to commit to a multi-year contract.

Obo is a starter for the Chargers and a rotational player for the Rams. So the time to cash in on his value is now, not in 2022. That would mean a solid pick from the Chargers. So let’s play it out.

In this trade, the Rams most certainly are giving up something of value. But the Chargers win in this scenario as well. They get one of the Rams edge rushers who have a distinct knack for getting to the quarterback. And the Rams get a pair of valued draft picks at a desperately needed point in time.