Rams face conundrum at NFL trade deadline due to defensive successes

Too much talent on an NFL team is often given a wink and a feigned woeful plea for help by fans who scoff at the concept. But the Los Angeles Rams have a challenge of too many talented players on this roster, and the fact that by season's end, the team will struggle with the salary cap constraints once more.

Too many talented players will want to be paid. And they deserve to be. Unfortunately, after getting the big bucks, some players fail to sustain their NFL production.

As the NFL trade deadline approaches, general manager Les Snead faces a conundrum of sorts. Should the team keep the secondary as is, knowing it increases the risk of losing players to free agency at the end of the season?

Or should the team strike while the iron is hot, trade some contributors now at optimal value, and use the pared-down roster to ensure that player extensions are not advanced math problems that have no solution? It may seem to have an obvious answer. But this is a conundrum that has defined the legacy of many general managers in a variety of professional sports. How so?

Les Snead knows he has to keep one eye on the future of this team

Snead understands that he cannot be so focused on today that he fails to address the Rams' future. Right now, the projected free agents from this team's secondary include safeties Quentin Lake and Kam Curl, as well as cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Ahkello Witherspoon.,

Who should be paid? Who will be paid? Ah, there it is. the million-dollar question. As this team continues to enjoy success, the cost of extensions inflate.

Few have a definitive answer that can persuade others. After all, the Rams enjoy four solid safeties at the moment. They are Kam Curl, Kamren Kinchens, Quentin Lake, and Jaylen McCollough. While Quentin Lake has played incredibly well, Curl and Kinchens are outstanding as well. There are only so many defensive snaps to go around.

Trading a safety at the trade deadline sounds borderline insane. Yet, it's a bit risky in terms of team depth. But there are benefits as well. If the team trades a player away, the remaining players absorb the workload, gain experience more quickly, and build chemistry, communication, and coordination more rapidly. Those are positives.

Do NFL teams need safeties at the trade deadline? Absolutely. The Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks are all teams listed as needing secondary help. Even the Los Angeles Rams are listed as needing a cornerback, so take it with a grain of salt.

Los Angeles may do nothing.

The NFL compensates teams that lose players to free agency with compensatory draft picks in the following year's draft. That may be enough to maintain the status quo. But as the team nears the November 4, 2025, trade deadline, don't be shocked if an NFL rumor links LA to trading away a contributor. Ironically, sometimes Les(s) is more. As always, thanks for reading.