Rams continue purge of former players, trade Van Jefferson to Falcons for next to nothing

Was this a salary dump? Or did the LA Rams truly believe that they emerged in a better position to compete in the future by off-loading veteran wide receiver Van Jefferson? In any case, the LA Rams patience with underperforming players has certainly reached a saturation point.

The new strategy of offloading players who are not meeting expectations has become commonplace to an LA Rams team that had previously been an NFL team that exhibited superhuman patience in affording true opportunities to make the Rams roster to undrafted rookies Now, the tolerance for players who fail to progress and improve is next to nothing.

You can go back over the past 12 months to find the carnage of Rams players who have been released, traded, or simply not extended. Former running back Darrell Henderson Jr., outside linebacker Terrell Lewis, wide receiver Allen Robinson, and even disgruntled running back Cam Akers have all parted ways with the LA Rams, and the return for their parting has been minimal.

The latest trade of veteran WR Van Jefferson continues the tradition of settling for a bag of Doritos for a player who has the potential to contribute for the right NFL team. So what are the details?

What does that look like in terms of an actual trade exchange?

The Rams are willing to send an NFL wide receiver and a pick to move up a couple of spots in the 2025 NFL Draft. That is basically a salary dump folks.

Is this a wise move? Well, the wisdom is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? The move only works if the Rams have better options to slide into that role, and I am not convinced that the Rams roster currently has that upgrade on the roster.

For all of his deficiencies, Van Jefferson has the speed and the experience that could translate into a breakout season. And he has been productive in the LA Rams offense in the past. Are the LA Rams playing the odds here? While the return of Cooper Kupp has altered the offensive targets, pushing Van Jefferson to fourth place in the receiver progressions, what happens if the Rams suffer any injuries over the remaining 12 games?

There are times that the LA Rams truly appear to be a competitive team. But there are times when the Rams seem to be far too hasty when it comes to offloading a veteran who could contribute this season. Will the Rams truly need to move up a few spots in the 2025 NFL Draft? Or was that simply pocket change to shed one more player from the Rams roster who held onto the past too stubbornly?