Rams may be one fearless trade away from being the top-seeded NFC playoff team

If there is one area that is worrying fans about the Los Angeles Rams right now, the answer is unanimously going to be special teams. More specifically, the kicking unit. Right now, the team is dead last in terms of field goal accuracy, something that has already been a hot topic for head coach Sean McVay.

The problem is the problem. What that means is that the contributing factors are many and complex, so the fix may now simply be cutting Joshua Karty. In fact, that may aggravate the problem. So what is the solution? It may be as easy as making a trade offer to the Green Bay Packers for former place kicker Lucas Havrisik. Why? Because he can do this:

Why would the Packers have any interest in trading a vital contributor to an NFC team that is in the hunt for a playoff berth as well? They currently hold two kickers on their roster: Brandon McManus and Lucas Havrisik. McManus is their original starter. Havrisik was signed when McManus was injured. They cannot possibly plan to keep both kickers all season long. One must be cut.

So it comes down to getting something for Havrisik now, or waiting and getting nothing for his release later.

Lucas Havrisik could be final piece needed at the NFL trade deadline

Re-acquiring Lucas Havrisik could be the final piece needed at the NFL trade deadline to push the team over the top in terms of the top-seeded NFC team, and perhaps even as a Super Bowl contender. The reason is pretty straightforward. Both losses by the team have come as a result of struggles with the field goal unit.

Adding Havrisik not only adds a solution to the team, but helps to hone in on the exact cause of the problem. Havrisik kicked for the team in 2023. By pitting him in open competition for the kicking job, ST Coordinator Chase Blackburn can more effectively troubleshoot the problem back to its root cause. Finding the cause is step one to finding a permanent solution

Is it the snapper, holder, or kicker? Havrisik can instantly aid the team in ruling out the kicker. If it's not Karty's fault, then cutting Karty is the worst option for corrective action.

Even with kicker chaos, at least one NFL expert believes it's the Los Angeles Rams who are the team to beat in the NFC. Former legendary quarterback Kurt Warner gave the team his full vote of confidence in the pre-game for Week 9.

If Les Snead could pry Lucas Havrisik away from the Green Bay Packers, that minor move may be all that is necessary to put LA on a trajectory for the top seed in the NFC. Even if the Packers refuse to deal now, eventually, they will reach a point of reckoning when one kicker will be released. When that happens, Snead will be ready.

Until then, cross your fingers and hope for the best. And as always, thanks for reading.