Rams Week 7 win dictated Les Snead's vital roster move at trade deadline

When the Los Angeles Rams won in Week 7, the victory changed the landscape dramatically for general manager Les Snead. A team with a record of 5-2 entering a BYE week is in a much better position than a team with a 4-3 record. A 4-3 team has to play trade negotiations a bit closer to the vest. But at 5-2, Snead is like James Bond, 007.

He has a license to deal.

And so it was a sensational victory at Wembley Stadium over the Jacksonville Jaguars that gave the front office a green light to enter the market as buyers. The team struck quickly, landing a solid cornerback in the Tennessee Titans' Roger McCreary. Best of all, the team landed him for a draft pick swap. The Rams are sending a fifth-round pick to the Titans, and getting McCreary and a sixth-round pick in return.

That's quite a bargain, particularly in a market with multiple teams seeking cornerback help. But it's more than just a bargain roster move. It's a message to the NFL that the Rams mean business. At five wins in seven games, coming out of the BYE, the team is in position to make a run for a top-seed in the upcoming NFL playoffs.

Les Snead understood the stakes before Rams victory in London

The 2025 Rams schedule is a tale of two cities. To open the season, Los Angeles swept five AFC teams, including all four teams from the AFC South Division. But the two losses for the season have come at the hands of their only two NFL opponents: The 5-3 San Francisco 49ers and the 6-2 Philadelphia Eagles.

The final 10 games remaining on the schedule are all NFC opponents.

Snead is not fooled easily. He knew what needed to be done over the BYE week as soon as the final score flashed on the scoreboard. But it makes a huge difference in terms of how he approached the trade deadline. More success before November 4 means that the GM can be a bit more aggressive. The goal is to win the Super Bowl. Los Angeles has never been in a better position to do so since 2021.

Need proof? Check out the Between the Horns video clip below that aired before the team traveled to England:

Snead knows that he has a contender in the making right now. In this scenario, the team has far more reason to emphasize immediate contributors. By trading for Tennessee Titans cornerback Roger McCreary, the secondary benefits from an immediate contributor. And the cost was next to nothing.

How quickly will fans see him play? That likely depends on how quickly this secondary needs him to contribute. For now, fans can expect him to contribute soon. Now the question is, are more moves coming? As always, thanks for reading.