Mike Florio claims Rams were willing to trade Davante Adams in AJ Brown package

If you know the history of NFL insider Mike Florio and the Los Angeles Rams, you undoubtedly know to take his reporting with a grain of salt. That is particularly true right now, as he is claiming that Los Angeles was willing to trade Davante Adams to the Philadelphia Eagles as part of the package for wide receiver AJ Brown.

But it doesn't make much sense.

It was Florio who reported that head coach Sean McVay was unlikely to return to coach LA. Of course, McVay did return, and the matter was brushed aside. So it's a matter of placing the emphasis on the right syllable in terms of what is and is not relevant. Yes, LA was in trade talks with Philly over trade talks for AJ Brown.

So what's the problem?

Discussing the Eagles' asking price is a far cry from putting terms on paper and executing a trade. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman had reportedly set an asking price of two first-round picks for Brown. In vetting the likelihood of a trade, general manager Les Snead would have tried to talk the asking price down.

As asking prices changed, discussions would take place. Terms are discussed and shot down very quickly. Were terms talked about? Sure. But there is a world of difference between an instant veto and prolonged discussions. Adams continues to wear the Horns.

Les Snead will give any scenario a listen

There's no need to march to SoFi Stadium with torches and pitchforks. LA Rams GM Les Snead will listen to any trade scenario. And he is more than happy to share the details of said scenarios, no matter how far-fetched.

But those discussions are about transparency, not persuasion.

Even as Florio cites the Rams' willingness to trade Davante Adams to facilitate the deal, he cites that the Rams have already tapped out. And the tale even contradicts itself by showcasing what an offense with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and AJ Brown might look like.

The Rams were never willing to trade Davante Adams.

Adams did not put up 1000 receiving yards, but he had two relevant reasons for a less-than-optimal offensive performance. For starters, quarterback Matthew Stafford's absence in training camp forced the pair to find chemistry after the season started. As a result, Adams had just one 100+ receiving yards game in 2025.

The larger impact was the injury that kept Adams out of the final three games of the season. Adams needed to average just 71 receiving yards per game to reach the 1K receiving yards plateau. Were he healthy, that was definitely doable.

But the wily veteran did average a touchdown per game. 14 receiving touchdowns is a very impressive performance, and one that Les Snead and company would not ship off to a competitor.

The proof is in the pudding. Whether or not Snead discussed trading Adams does not mean that he was in favor of it. In fact, it does not translate into anyone okaying the move. Davante Adams loves playing in LA. LA loves Davante Adams.

It's why Sean McVay returned, that mutual affection and admiration. That's something some NFL insiders forget to mention.

As always, thanks for reading.