The Los Angeles Rams haven’t been aggressive in free agency the last two years, mostly sitting out the frenzy by either re-signing their own players or adding guys who were cut by their teams. The way Les Snead has improved the roster most is by striking deals to acquire starters in trades – players like Marcus Peters, Brandin Cooks and Aqib Talib.
If the Rams want to go down that avenue again this offseason, there are several players who could pique their interest. Here are six potential trade targets for Los Angeles, all of which are on the defensive side of the ball.
Bills OLB Jerry Hughes
The Rams reportedly tried to trade for Jadeveon Clowney and Jerry Hughes before landing Dante Fowler Jr. at the deadline as they searched for pass-rush help. They already have Fowler, but what if they could add Hughes, too? It’s not very likely to happen because the Rams just paid Fowler, but he would be a valuable addition to the defense.
The Rams would only have to take on $7.5 million to acquire him, too, which is a reasonable amount for a player who hasn’t missed a game since 2011 and has put up solid numbers. Since joining the Bills, Hughes has had at least five sacks each season except in 2017, posting 10 sacks each in 2013 and 2014. Last season, he recorded seven sacks, forced three fumbles and had 18 quarterback hits – second-most in his career.
If the Bills would be willing to trade him for a mid-round pick, the Rams should consider it.
Browns OLB Emmanuel Ogbah
Ogbah has fallen out of favor in Cleveland after the Browns added Olivier Vernon, relegating him to a backup role. He’s entering the last year of his contract and would only cost the Rams $1.35 million in 2019, which makes him an extremely intriguing trade target. The former second-round pick has missed eight games the last two seasons and has just seven sacks in that span.
He was excellent as a rookie, though, recording 5.5 sacks, 53 tackles and 16 quarterback hits – all the best of his career. The Rams could probably land him for no more than a fifth-round pick, too.
Jets ILB Darron Lee
The Jets added C.J. Mosley, essentially making Lee expendable. Mosley will start next to Avery Williamson, leaving Lee as the No. 3 linebacker on a team that only starts two of them inside. New York should be very willing to move Lee, who has had a rollercoaster career in the NFL thus far. He’s battled injuries and struggled on the field, but he’s shown flashes of being a quality linebacker the last two years.
He was Pro Football Focus’ 24th-best linebacker in 2018, making 74 tackles, picking off three passes and making five tackles for loss in 12 games. He’s still on his rookie deal, which makes him easily tradeable, and the Rams have a hole at linebacker after cutting Mark Barron. Lee is better in coverage than he is against the run, but he’d be a cheap replacement for Barron, elevating the Rams’ pass defense in the middle.
Dolphins CB Xavien Howard
Trading Howard seems like a crazy idea for Miami, but the Dolphins are in full tank mode after dealing Ryan Tannehill to the Titans. Howard is one of their best players, but he wants to be the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. Miami may not be willing to pay the Pro Bowler that way, so it might look to recoup assets in a trade before he hits free agency in 2020.
Acquiring Howard would be contingent on the Rams either trading Marcus Peters to free up $9 million or cutting Aqib Talib, which would save them $8 million. His contract is extremely tradeable, too, costing any team that acquires him just $1.3 million in 2019.
He’ll be a free agent after this season unless a deal is signed beforehand, which makes a deal slightly riskier. However, he’s an absolute ball hawk who would improve the secondary dramatically as he’s picked off 11 passes the last two seasons.
49ers DL Arik Armstead
The 49ers probably don’t want to deal Armstead within the division and may not trade him at all, but the combination of him and Solomon Thomas up front has not worked. Armstead had his best season as a pro in 2018, recording three sacks, 48 tackles and 12 quarterback hits. If the 49ers do want to trade him, they’d be wise to sell high now.
He would come in right away and play defensive end in the Rams’ 3-4 scheme, which seems like his best fit. That would allow Los Angeles to either cut Michael Brockers and save $10 million or move him to nose tackle, replacing Ndamukong Suh. Like Peters, Armstead is owed $9 million on the fifth-round option this year and will hit free agency after the season, which means L.A. would need to free up some money to fit him under the cap.
Texans OLB Whitney Mercilus
Mercilus will be a free agent in 2020 and the Texans can save $6.25 million by trading him, which might make Clowney’s franchise tag an easier pill to swallow. Mercilus is no longer a full-time starter in Houston and has just five sacks the last two years, but that’s partly because he missed 11 games in 2017.
He can still be an effective pass rusher and would help the Rams in 2019, providing some help at outside linebacker with questions surrounding Samson Ebukam and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. He’d be worth a pick in the mid-to-late rounds for one season, bridging the gap until Los Angeles can find a long-term solution at the position.
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