Fox sports teases Rams fans with this unlikely draft day trade candidate

The Los Angeles Rams will soon be engaged in the make-or-break phase of the offseason, the annual NFL Draft. The team enters the annual event with eight picks, but with holes during the event in Rounds 2, 5, and 7. It's that fact alone that leads me to believe that the Rams could trade back and out of Round 1 (if an appropriate offer is extended by another team) to pick up draft picks in the rounds that they are currently excluded from.

But there are other currencies.

In his latest article, Fox Sports NFL analyst Ralph Vacchiano shares one player from each NFL team who could be acquired during the event for the right price. Of course, the right price is entirely dependent on whether you are a fan of the selling team or the buying team. It's an ambitious project, and I'm quite certain that fans of all 32 teams will not agree that the player named by Vacchiano to be on the trading block.

Therein lies the appeal of the article.

So who does Vacchiano see as players who could change allegiances on draft day throughout the NFC West? They are:

Arizona Cardinals: RB James Conner

I just can't see this one. Conner is the backbone of the Cardinals' offense, and he is the one player who seems to be counted on as other players may struggle. His reasoning? He will turn 30, has been a 1000+ yard rusher in each of the past two seasons, and will earn $3.6 million in 2025. That is exactly why he will not be traded by the Cardinals.

Los Angeles Rams: S Kam Curl

What am I missing? Ralph Vacchiano's article reads as though Kamren Curl was a complete and utter bust for the Rams. And yet, Curl delivered Pro Football Focus grades of 67.3 overall and 61.6 in pass coverage. The secondary may not have excelled at defending the pass, but that was more a function of injured and dysfunctional cornerbacks than Curl.

Rookie safeties Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough were stronger (per PFF) in pass coverage. But Curl was a solid run defender as well. I can't see the Rams trading away veteran secondary experience to go younger in a season that is viewed as one of the final seasons for veteran QB Matthew Stafford to chase another Super Bowl ring.

San Francisco 49ers: WR Brandon Aiyuk

49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk has been talked about in trade whispers for months. But now that the 49ers went ahead and paid out his huge roster bonus, they are not going to ship Aiyuk to another team for draft compensation. The question before was whether or not Aiyuk was worth that huge payday. Now that he has been paid, it's a moot point. So, is there any reason for the 49ers to trade him away?

Seattle Seahawks: RB Kenneth Walker

Much like Cardinals' RB James Connor, Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker has been the backbone of the offense. That is particularly vital in a season in which the team plans to rally behind newly acquired quarterback Sam Darnold. The reason for his presence on a trade block? He was injured in 2024.

Walker played 11 games in 2024 and scored seven touchdowns. In three NFL seasons, Walker started 37 NFL games and racked up 24 touchdowns. While there may be a training camp battle for the lead running back role on the Seahawks depth chart between Walker and Zach Charbonnet, that is not the type of competition that opens the door to trading away a player.

It was certainly an ambitious undertaking. But draft day trades are quite difficult to predict, as trading a veteran is more likely driven by a team that missed out on getting a rookie at a position seen as vital to the upcoming season. So it is the acquiring team, and not the selling team, that drives draft day trades.

Running backs and safeties are unlikely to suffer a shortage in this draft to warrant a team scrambling to trade for a substitute. While the wide receiver position could trigger a team seeking veteran help, the 49ers are not going to cut a $22.8 million bonus check to Aiyuk to watch him compete elsewhere this season.

These are not the draft day trade scenarios that you are looking for. Move along. Move along.

As always, thank you for reading.

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