LA Rams officially shopping dream trade target for IOL needy NFL teams

The LA Rams rushed into the 2024 NFL Free Agency market with sacks of cash and emerged with several veteran players to reinforce the team's roster for the 2024 NFL season. But free agents do not always deliver as hoped. Veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White, trying to bounce back from two serious injuries, never seemed to reclaim his former form. The Rams found other solutions and were able to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens before the 2024 NFL Trade Deadline.

The Rams really didn't get much more than a bag of chips and a six-pack in return.

But White was not the only free agent signed to the team in 2024 who failed to deliver to expectations. After all, the Rams started off last season with an onslaught of injuries that forced the front office into action and the coaching staff into rearranging the starting lineup many times, simply to ensure that healthy players would suit up.

The Rams interior offensive lineman Jonah Jackson, signed as a free agent in lieu or Coleman Shelton, packed a lot of promise for the team in 2024. But he was oft injured, lasting just part of Week 1 before being relieved by rookie center Beaux Limmer. Limmer played well enough to compel the team to keep him in as the starter, even after Jonah Jackson healed up.

There was an opportunity that the team would entertain competition for the center position in 2025. But that appears to be a non-issue. Having given QB Matthew Stafford permission to shop his services, the team now has reportedly given Jonah Jackson the same opportunity to seek an NFL team that might be willing to trade for his services.

For any team interested in acquiring a former Pro Bowl interior offensive lineman, his salary is very reasonable. Out of his 3-year $51 million deal, the Rams are on the hook for his $17 million signing bonus. And the team already paid out $8 million of his salary due in 2024. So with $25 million under the bridge, he will only cost his new team $26 million for two years, or an average of $13 million APY.

That's very reasonable in terms of compensation.

Will the Rams attract any takers? While trading for a player is the least desired option for many NFL GMs, the route does offer some advantages. The player comes with a ready-made contract, defining the terms for the next two seasons. The player is much less of an unknown than a rookie, so the upside for the team has a bit more certainty.

The Rams have already placed WR Cooper Kupp on notice that he will be traded. The team is rumored to be backed into a corner to trade Matthew Stafford over salary demands. Now, the team is likely to trade veteran IOL Jonah Jackson.

The Rams paid the most expensive offense in 2024, but did not get an enviable return for the investment. While the performance of the offense in 2025 still remains to be seen, the team is already divesting to bring the offense more in line with other NFL teams.

As always, thanks for reading.

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