NFL Rumors: Vikings whispers could obliterate Rams Robinson market

The LA Rams are suppliers of NFL talent in 2023. Well, to a point. It's tough to argue that the veteran players who are currently available, such as FA ILB Bobby Wagner, and then you have WR Allen Robinson, OLB Leonard Floyd, and DB Jalen Ramsey via trade, would not upgrade virtually any NFL team contender to the point that they are viewed as the favorite to win SB LVIII.

The biggest hiccup in the Rams plans are the fact that with the exception of Jalen Ramsey, the team has made it know that if no trade partner is found, both Floyd and Robinson will be waived. That's a bit confusing in some ways, but not if you think of the Rams roster in the same manner that the LA Rams think of their roster. What do I mean by that?

This is not the LA Rams first time at the jettison button. After the team made a run at Super Bowl LIII in 2019, the team traded away WR Brandin Cooks and released RB Todd Gurley. At the end of 2020, the team outright traded away QB Jared Goff. In 2021, the Rams got hot and won Super Bowl LVI.

Robinson's market may get competition

The Rams had an early advantage in setting their potential trade partners up by being the first on the scene. In short, NFL rumors over the availability of Allen Robinson, combined with a willingness by the Rams to 'help out with the salary' was a shrewd marketing technique, as long as Robinson was the top wide receiver who was up for bid. But that may not be the case now, as new NFL rumors indicate that Adam Thielen could be available soon.

While both Robinson and Thielen both joined the NFL in 2014, and both have almost identical receiving yards, Thielen has been the more consistent receiver, and his 55 touchdown receptions is significantly better than Robinson's 43 TDs. So, I believe that it's safe to say that the appearance of Minnesota Vikings WR Adam Thielen as an option for NFL would all but obliterate the market for Allen Robinson.

Of course, there are always caveats and addendums with NFL players. For starters, where do they wish to play? After their second contract in the NFL, most NFL veterans want to land on the roster of a competitive NFL team, and there is some subjectivity to which teams will be competitive in 2023.

A new NFL arms race in the making?

For Adam Thielen, the current narrative is that he wishes to join the Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, or Baltimore Ravens. Curiously, there are a number of really strong NFC teams and a few AFC teams that have been left off the list:

Would the addition of Thielen to a new NFL team trigger an arms race of sorts? That is, would his sudden signing to the Kansas City Chiefs prompt the LA Chargers to seek to add Allen Robinson? That is one possible scenario. But it is unlikely to fall into place before the Rams release Robinson.

I like Allen Robinson, and believe that it was just the perfect storm of injuries and chaos that derailed an opportunity for him to find success with the LA Rams in 2022. While I have faith that a regroup and renewed effort in 2023 could have completely different and more admirable results for Robinson and the Rams offense, it's brutally obvious that the Rams are plowing the fields to plant a new batch of seeds.

It's springtime, a time for renewal, new growth, and a new cycle of life. But like a grandmaster at chess, it appears that LA Rams General Manager Les Snead is willing to sacrifice valuable pieces on the board in order to set up the team to win in the long run. With this latest development, any hope of getting something in return for losing WR Allen Robinson appears to be less likely. But stay tuned, as the LA Rams are always good for one surprising turn of events. We just never know what is around the corner with this team.

Of course, there is always the rare chance that the Vikings, with former LA Rams OC Kevin O'Connell, could dump Thielen and flip the script and sign Robinson. Wouldn't that be surprise irony?