Rams hit new low in underwhelming return from their latest trade at the deadline
By Bret Stuter
Yes the LA Rams were active at the 2024 NFL Trade Deadline. But if you were hoping that this team would get something of value in return for trading aways a player, you should know better than that by now. The first clue of next-to-nothing in return for trading away veteran defensive back Tre'Davious White is the fact that the team already reported to working closely with both White and his agent to finding a promising landing site.
Whenever fans hear that from the front office, the idea that the team would get something of value in the exchange instantly disappeared. And as it happened, the Rams tradition of trading away players for a bag of pretzels and a six-pack of beverage continues.
This may be the smallest return that the Rams have gotten in a negotiated trade.
So here is the deal. The Rams are sending veteran cornerback Tre'Davious White PLUS a 2027 NFL Draft pick in Round 7, and recieving a 2026 NFL Draft pick in Round 7.
It could not have been any less return. In fact, if the Rams are very bad in 2027, and the Ravens are very good in 2026, the Rams will actually have a net loss of draft value in the overall value of this exchange.
Ultimately, this trade has far more resemblance to a salary dump by the Rams football organization than a trade of a player for value. This exchange is far worse for the Rams than the conditional pick swap negotiated when the team traded RB Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings.
In that trade, Akers failed to satisfy the conditions, so no trade picks changed hands.
In this exchange, the Ravens could get better value from the Rams solely on the fact that they swap their 2026 Round 7 pick for the Rams 2027 Round 7 pick, regardless of how well (or not) Tre White plays for them. The only tangible value that the Rams can rely upon today is the knowledge that they will save approximately $1.4 million of White's salary against the salary cap, and that they have a open roster slot to fill as players get healthy.
Was it worth it? Well, let's put it this way. There is almost no risk to any NFL team that trades for a player from the LA Rams roster. The Baltimore Ravens are just the latest team to exploit that fact.
As always, thanks for reading.