The NFC West arms race shifted dramatically on Tuesday, when the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers completed major trades with the Indianapolis Colts to keep pace in a fiercely competitive division.
For the Los Angeles Rams, who sit at 3-4 after spending their offseason acquiring All-Pro defenders Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, the calculus of the season has changed entirely. Their division rivals did not wait to counter. Seattle traded a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick for left guard Quenton Nelson, while San Francisco dealt a 2027 fourth-round pick for defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
Those additions arrive with clear intent. Both Nelson and Buckner are playing on expiring deals after the 2026 season, signaling an all-in push for a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, the Rams find themselves needing to make up ground against the 6-1 49ers and 4-3 Seahawks, with three games remaining against that tandem. Because Los Angeles traded away a massive draft capital package—including a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and third-round picks in 2027 and 2029—their spending budget and draft flexibility are severely constrained compared to their rivals.
Weighing Trade Targets at Wide Receiver
The urgency to add talent heightened when wide receiver Davante Adams suffered a ruptured hamstring that will sideline him for six to 10 games. With Puka Nacua battling through his second injury of the season, the Rams are thin on reliable targets.
One potential option is Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Selected in the first round of the 2024, Thomas exploded for 1,282 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie. His production dipped to 707 yards and two touchdowns last season in Liam Coen’s system, and he has struggled to carve out a consistent role this year with just nine catches for 105 yards and a touchdown across six games while playing 43 percent of snaps. Jaguars general manager James Gladstone spent 2016 through 2024 with the Rams, maintaining strong relationships with general manager Les Snead and coach Sean McVay. Thomas has one year left on a deal that will pay just $2.8 million next season.
Another target from the Colts’ fire sale is Josh Downs. A 2023 third-round pick, Downs has proven durable despite his 171-pound frame, playing in 54 of 58 possible games. He surpassed 700 receiving yards in each of his first two seasons before regressing amid quarterback struggles in Indianapolis. While primarily a slot receiver, Downs excels against man coverage and has returned 31 punts in his career for a 9.4-yard average. If the price falls to a fifth- or sixth-round pick, he could provide immediate utility.
Plugging the Middle on Defense
Defensively, the Rams face a glaring void after losing nose tackle Poona Ford for the season with a torn triceps. Ford transformed their run defense upon his arrival in 2025.
To fill that gap, Indianapolis nose tackle Grover Stewart offers an established veteran presence. Nicknamed “the guard butcher” for his ability to win single-blocks while DeForest Buckner commanded double-teams, Stewart has missed only eight games in 10 seasons—six of those due to a 2023 suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy. At age 33, his contract carries up to $13 million in remaining money, but it expires at the end of the season.
A similar alternative is Washington Commanders nose tackle Daron Payne. At 29, Payne has seen his pass-rushing numbers dip—recording just four sacks since the start of last season following an 11.5-sack Pro Bowl campaign in 2022—but he remains an effective run-plugger. Like Stewart, Payne is on an expensive expiring deal, with more than $16 million due this season, which could lower his trade cost.
Bubba Ventrone Could Influence Rams Deadline Approach
Rams coordinator Bubba Ventrone could also influence the Rams’ deadline approach. Indianapolis wide receiver Ashton Dulin, whom Ventrone previously scouted as an undrafted free agent out of Malone University, developed into an All-Pro gunner and boasts 38 career kick returns with a 29.9-yard average.
As the Rams prepare to face the winless Los Angeles Chargers, front office decisions over the coming days will determine whether this roster leans fully into a high-stakes push around Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, and Adams, or protects its long-term future for quarterback Ty Simpson.
