NFL rumors reveal Rams pushed for draft trade that would've changed everything

The Los Angeles Rams are no strangers to being rejected by the Carolina Panthers when trying to assemble a trade package. At the 2022 NFL Trade Deadline, the Los Angeles Rams were rejected on two trade offers made to the Panthers for veteran RB Christian McCaffrey and Edge rusher Brian Burns. McCaffrey would eventually find himself traded to the San Francisco 49ers. Butns would ultimately be traded to the New York Giants a year later.

While many expected the Rams to explore trading up scenarios in the 2025 NFL Draft on Day 1 to claim one of two elite tight ends available in this draft: Penn State TE Tyler Warren and Michigan TE Colston Loveland. Loveland was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 10th overall pick. Warren was selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the 14th overall pick. With both tight ends off the board before the 15th overall pick, many Rams fans expected the Rams' trade-up scenarios to be obsolete.

Not so fast, per ESPN NFL Insider Dianna Russini. She reported NFL rumors about the Rams working the phones to trade up to select elite rookie WR prospect Tet McMillan:

"The Rams were making calls to move up and teams believed L.A. was seeking to draft Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan, per source.

McMillan was selected by the Panthers at No. 8."

NFL Insider Dianna Russini

Tetairoa McMillan is an elite college wide receiver for the Arizona Wildcats and was chosen by the Carolina Panthers with the eighth overall pick.

Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 219 pounds, McMillan is one more wide receiver who breaks the mold used by the Rams front office to select receivers for the offense in the past. Projected as the fourth-ranked wide receiver available in this draft, Tet McMillan was the first pure rookie wide receiver prospect off the board. There is a debate about whether Travis Hunter will primarily be an NFL cornerback or wide receiver.

To some draft analysts, McMillan was a polarizing prospect. He is certainly gifted enough to become a highly productive NFL weapon. But he held questions about his work ethic, passion for the game, and desire to play football. The Rams have been quite successful in past drafts by committing to rookies who possess limitless passion for the game. If concerns about McMillan's passion are true, it may be that the Rams are once again saved from themselves with suspect trade-up targets in this draft.

I have to believe that the cost of trading up from the 26th overall pick to at least the eighth overall pick would cost the Rams their Round 1, both Round 3 picks, and a 2026 Round 1 pick. If that was the Rams' offer, the Rams dodged a draft-day bullet.

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