LA Rams rumors re: trading for WR Julio Jones are heating up

The LA Rams are in win-now mode. That’s a given. What does win-now mode even mean? Well, to put it bluntly, it’s the term used to describe the perspective of a professional sports organization when they convert a balanced roster strategy that weighs both present and future goals equally into a strategy that emphasizes the here and now. The opposite strategy is rebuilding mode. That’s when teams liquidate valuable players on their roster for draft picks.

The LA Rams have earned the reputation as the NFL version of a wheelin’ dealing sort of NFL team. So far, that reputation has served them well. When the Jacksonville Jaguars faced a disgruntled All-Pro defensive back, Jalen Ramsey, the LA Rams showed up with a king’s ransom and bailed them out. When the Detroit Lions faced an unhappy veteran quarterback, Matthew Stafford, the LA Rams showed up once more with a king’s ransom and bailed them out.

News flash: The Atlanta Falcons are facing a very dissatisfied wide receiver, Julio Jones. The LA Rams track record would lead many to believe that another Brinks truck is en route to Atlanta to bail out the Falcons. That’s the LA Rams reputation in NFL circles.

But it also serves as a lightning rod to attract the attention of pundits and prognosticators when a deal in the NFL is about to go down, but nobody has a good lead on who is involved. So putting the LA Rams into the discussion translates into credibility. That’s happening right now. Oddsmakers are starting to show signs of believing that the Rams are in the running, and some think they are a favored team.

This is interesting. Julio Jones to the Rams was a distant longshot a day or two ago. They're now the second favorite at +500 at @BetRivers
— Aaron Oster (@TheAOster) May 27, 2021

They are not the only ones. Others who have taken a more objective assessment of the situation are jumping on the bandwagon. The Rams rumors of trading for Julio Jones is getting hot folks!

reasons i have the rams as favorites to land julio jones:

•history of trading draft picks for top players
•julio has a great relationship with rams DC raheem morris
•schrager is plugged in with the rams and has mentioned it
•julio’s odds have moved from +3300 to +500 pic.twitter.com/wrJHCFBktm
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) May 28, 2021

And now, the heat is turned up from those ‘in the know’ too. That same pattern that preceded the Rams blockbuster trade for Matthew Stafford is now happening over the Julio Jones to the Rams rumors.

The Atlanta Falcons have discussed several trade offers for Julio Jones, including an offer for a future first round draft pick, per sources.

There is a sense around the league a trade could go down as early as next week.
— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) May 27, 2021

So how can this happen?

The LA Rams have avenues to free up the cap space. And while they do not have a first-round draft pick in the immediate future, the team has one second-round and two third-round picks for the 2022 NFL Draft. The team also has a glut of wide receivers on the roster. So who will the Rams consider offering?

Well now, that’s for the next discussion. See you soon!

Schedule