LOS ANGELES _ Five years after the Rams made Tavon Austin the eighth overall pick in the 2013 draft, the team traded him Saturday to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick.
Austin, 27, leaves after catching 194 passes for 1,689 yards and 12 touchdowns during his five seasons with the Rams.
Austin signed a four-year, $42 million contract extension before the 2016 season. But after last season's unproductive performance, he agreed to rework the deal to what essentially is a one-year contract.
The Rams save about $1 million of salary-cap space by moving Austin. His departure leaves the Rams with receivers Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas on the roster.
The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Austin earned nearly $15 million in salary and roster bonuses last season, but he lost his job as the punt returner and was utilized primarily as a decoy in first-year coach Sean McVay's offense as the Rams won the NFC West.
Austin's future with the franchise was uncertain from the time the Rams traded for Sammy Watkins during training camp.
Austin had been unable to participate in offseason workouts, and then suffered a hamstring injury during training camp.
He finished the 2017 season with 13 catches for 47 yards. He rushed for 270 yards and a touchdown on 59 carries.
Austin was set to earn $8 million in salary and roster bonuses this season. In March, he agreed to be paid $5 million, with the possibility to earn $3 million through incentives, and drop the final three years of the deal.
