Latest Texans move proves Rams do not always get full value in player trades

Do the LA Rams leave value on the table? It has often been a rather energetic debate among fans regarding the value of players who are exchanged by the Rams front office when they have worn out their welcome, or their rookie contracts have expired. While a fresh exchange of players who feel they have earned big pay increases for new inexpensive rookies on a four-year contract makes perfect business sense, it does come with some flaws.

And those hiccups jump out at fans when the team is struggling.

The Rams, a team that is 1-4, traded away veteran RB Cam Akers early in 2023. At the time, the team decided to move on after Akers was disgruntled in his limited-use role in the offense. As a result, the team traded him to the Minnesota Vikings and a conditional Round 7 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft in exchange for a conditional Round 6 pick in that same draft.

Those conditions were never met.

So what were those conditions? The Vikings required Akers to contribute at least 500 years of combined offense to meet the conditions of the trade stipulations. Instead, Akers suffered a second Achilles Tendon injury. The Vikings did not extend Akers at the end of 2024. Instead, he signed on with the Houston Texans, and has played rather well in a limited role for theml.

So well, in fact, that the Vikings have made the same conditional trade to reunite with RB Cam Akers, and under the same trade terms as the previous exchange with the Rams:

So, what gives?

Not a fit versus unfit

The Rams are known for making blockbuster trades to add proven talent to the roster. What the team is not known for is getting fair market value on the back end of deals when the team is eager to part ways with a player. Either the front office watches as a player's contract expires, only to sign with a new team, or the team has a fire sale to shed a player who has worn out their welcome.

And that can be frustrating at times.

When the LA Rams traded for QB Matthew Stafford, the team had to sweeten the deal by sending starting QB Jared Goff, a Round 3 pick, and two Round 1 picks to the Detroit Lions. While history has proven that both quarterbacks worked out for their new teams, at the time, Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Jon Gruden thought it was a player-for-player swap.

Former Rams OLB Samson Ebukam had a monster season for the Indianapolis Colts in 2023. His teammate, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, improved significantly after signing with the Houston Texans. Former DE Morgan Fox is stitching together a very respectable NFL career after leaving the LA Rams roster.

The point is not that the Rams screw up. It's that there simply plenty of evidence to call into the team's personnel decisions into question.

After all, this is the same team that traded All-Pro DB Jalen Ramsey for a Round 3 pick and TE Hunter Long.

Unlike widgets, players are attuned to their surroundings. They need the right supporting cast, including coaches, teammates, strategy, and even the off-field lifestyle. That is why we continue to discover that not all free-agency signings work out. And it's also why some players who sign or are traded elsewhere flourish.

So back to the Cam Akers trade. The Houston Texans ended up with the same trade terms as the LA Rams did 13 months earlier. The difference? Akers is now coming off two Achilles Tendon injuries. That makes him less certain to pan out.

And yet, the Texans did not agree to a discount.

While the Rams streak of success so far has been rather impressive, it has not been without flaws. But like any mistake, the matter can be valuable if the team learns from those errors.

As always, thanks for reading

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