The Los Angeles Rams are paying close attention to the draft’s top prospects this week at the NFL combine, but they could also be talking to teams about potential trades. There are a number of players who might be available this offseason, many of which would fit the Rams’ needs.
Here are 10 players who could be on the move and targeted by Los Angeles in a trade.
Justin Houston, EDGE, Chiefs
New surfaced on Wednesday night that the Chiefs are open to trading their 30-year-old pass rusher. He may not be in the prime years of his career when he had three straight seasons with double-digit sacks, but he’s still a highly effective edge rusher. In the last two seasons (27 games), Houston has racked up 18.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits.
Translation: He can still rush the passer.
Given his age, slight durability concerns and contract – $21.1 million cap hit in 2019 – there are some hurdles to getting a deal done. His base salary is $15.25 million, which would be a hefty price for the Rams to pay, but perhaps they could re-do his deal after swinging a trade. There’s no doubt he’d upgrade the pass rush, though, and likely for just a late-round pick.
Vic Beasley, EDGE, Falcons
Would the Falcons be willing to move their star pass rusher? It might not be likely, but with this being the final year of his contract and Atlanta fielding offers last year, it’s possible. He has a manageable cap hit of $12.8 million on the fifth-year option this season, which the Falcons might want to get out of.
He’s had just five sacks in each of the last two seasons and Atlanta had struggled to find the right fit for him up front. With Takk McKinley there and Grady Jarrett to pay, the Falcons might be willing to move on from Beasley before he hits free agency in 2020.
Haason Reddick, LB, Cardinals
Reddick has been moved around more than most players the last two years, bouncing around from 3-4 inside linebacker to outside linebacker to eventually playing outside in Steve Wilks’ 4-3 scheme last year. He hasn’t thrived in any of those roles, but he probably fits best as a 3-4 inside ‘backer.
He’s a phenomenal athlete and can cover with the best linebackers in the league, but he just needs some stability. The Rams could offer him that as a potential replacement for Mark Barron. He could also rush the passer in sub-packages, utilizing his versatile skill set.
Shaq Lawson, EDGE, Bills
Lawson has been a 4-3 defensive end the last two years but he played in a 3-4 as a rookie in 2016. He’s struggled to find his footing at the professional level with only 10 career sacks in 35 games, but he’s also had trouble staying healthy. Lawson is entering the final year of his rookie contract unless the Bills exercise his fifth-year option, which doesn’t seem like a certainty.
This could be a similar situation to Marcus Peters last year. The Rams could probably land Lawson for a couple of mid-round picks, get a year of him on a cheap contract before having the chance to release him when his salary spikes in 2020 if the Bills pick up his option.
Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jaguars
Ramsey would be the costliest player on this list and would almost certainly yield a first-round pick in return. He’s also the best player who could be available to the Rams, aside from Antonio Brown and Odell Beckham Jr., of course. If the Rams don’t feel confident in Peters or Aqib Talib, they could either trade one of them and a first-round pick to Jacksonville in return for Ramsey.
Or, the Rams could just cut one of them to save $8 or $9 million against the cap to fit Ramsey’s $3.6 million salary in. Ramsey has hinted that he’ll leave the Jaguars when his contract ends, and while Jaguars GM Dave Caldwell said Wednesday that they won’t trade him, nothing is impossible.
Jamie Collins, LB, Browns
Collins has fallen off since being traded to the Browns, but in the right system, he can still be a quality starter. He fits perfectly in the Rams’ 3-4 system, slotting in at inside linebacker in base defense and possibly rushing the passer on third down.
Collins could use a change of scenery and Los Angeles might just be the place for him. Yes, he’s 29 years old, but he played all 16 games in 2018 and racked up 104 tackles. Collins could simply be a cap casualty so it might be worth waiting for that to happen, especially considering the Rams would be on the hook for $10 million in 2019 if they traded for him.
Jerry Hughes, EDGE, Bills
It was reported that the Rams originally wanted Jerry Hughes over Dante Fowler Jr. at the trade deadline but were unable to land him. Well, they have another chance to make a trade for the veteran pass rusher. He’ll be 31 before the season begins but would cost the Rams only $6.35 million in 2019 if traded to L.A.
The Rams need pass-rush help badly and Hughes could certainly assist in that department. He’d be a nice short-term rental, possibly pairing him with a rookie draft pick or someone already on the roster.
Xavien Howard, CB, Dolphins
If the Dolphins really are in full rebuild mode, Howard could be a guy on the move. He’s one of their most valuable defenders and could net a couple of draft picks in return. Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said not to expect a trade involving Howard, but for the right price, Miami might move him.
If the Dolphins would take a 2020 third-rounder and Michael Brockersfrom the Rams for Howard, it may be a deal worth making. It could help Miami land a quarterback in next year’s draft, while also giving Miami a solid 3-technique defensive tackle.
Ron Leary, LG, Broncos
This trade is contingent on Rodger Saffold leaving, of course. Leary has had trouble staying healthy in Denver, having missed 15 games the last two years, which continues a trend from his days in Dallas. If the Broncos are considering making him a cap casualty to save more than $7.4 million, maybe they’d be willing to trade him for a mid-round pick.
He’s a road-grading guard the way Saffold is and would fit nicely in Los Angeles, assuming he can stay healthy.
Whitney Mercilus, EDGE, Texans
Mercilus is a potential cap casualty, as well, with the Texans needing to pay Jadeveon Clowney, possibly Christian Covington and having almost no place to play Mercilus. Still only 28 years old, Mercilus isn’t necessarily on the older side. His production has dipped the last two years as a role player, but he’s proved he can be a solid starter at outside linebacker.
This is the final year of his contract and if the Rams traded for him, they’d only be on the hook for his $5.75 million base salary in 2019. That’s a very low price to pay, especially if Fowler leaves in free agency.
