Los Angeles Rams Address Biggest Concern With Blockbuster Trade
The Los Angeles Rams are typically one of the most aggressive teams in the NFL, and they've just struck the first major blockbuster trade of the offseason. They sent a package of four picks, including a first-rounder, for Trent McDuffie, an All-Pro cornerback.
Los Angeles Rams add Trent McDuffie
Every single mock draft in the world had the Los Angeles Rams using at least one of their first-round picks on a cornerback. It was their biggest need. The secondary struggled mightily and was exposed in their playoff run, as both the Carolina Panthers and Seattle Seahawks lit them up through the air.
In an unorthodox way, the Rams did use one of their first-round picks on a corner. They just did so before the draft. On Wednesday, about a week before free agency begins, they sent the 29th pick as part of a package for Trent McDuffie.
The full package is:
- 29th overall pick
- Fifth-round pick
- Sixth-round pick
- 2027 third-round pick
The former Kansas City Chiefs' corner is a one-time All-Pro and two-time Super Bowl champion. Now, he's the next piece of the Super Bowl puzzle in Los Angeles. Ironically, the last time they won a Super Bowl, it occurred after a blockbuster trade. Then, it was for Matthew Stafford. Now, it's for McDuffie.
This is essentially the last thing they needed. The Rams have a dominant front seven, including one of the best defensive lines in the sport. Teams struggle to run against it, and quarterbacks usually face immense pressure.
They have a dominant offense, perhaps the best in the sport. The offensive line is stout, the run game is exceptional with Blake Corum and Kyren Williams, and Matthew Stafford is the MVP. You'd also be hard-pressed to find a better WR duo than Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
The only thing they didn't have was a dominant tight end (but they like the trio of players and use them all to excellent results. They just don't have a Travis Kelce or Sam LaPorta) and a cornerback. Emmanuel Forbes and Cobie Durant were not cutting it.
McDuffie immediately slots in as the starting corner opposite Darious Williams for now, but they may not be done upgrading the position.
Rams continue to trade picks
The Los Angeles Rams have historically thrown away first-round draft picks. They prefer to trade them and get established players, which they've done almost exclusively for the last 10 years. Here's how their first-round picks have been used:
- 2017: Traded to Titans
- 2018: Traded to Patriots
- 2019: Traded to Falcons
- 2020: Traded to Jaguars
- 2021: Traded to Jaguars
- 2022: Traded to Lions
- 2023: Traded to Lions
- 2024: Jared Verse
- 2025: Traded to Falcons
- 2026: Traded to Chiefs
It's worth noting that they do still have a first-round pick. In fact, they own the 13th pick from the Atlanta Falcons. However, as you'll see in the list above, that is because they traded their 2025 pick (26th overall) to the Falcons.
The Falcons wanted to move back up and get James Pearce Jr., and the Rams happily obliged. So while they do have a top-15 pick now, they still have used just one first-round pick in the last two seasons (barring another trade giving them a 2026 first-rounder).
This kind of strategy can certainly backfire. The Rams are stockpiling players instead of assets. Players age and become expensive, and they eventually leave or retire. Eventually, this era of the Rams will end (likely when Stafford retires), and they'll face a major rebuild without draft picks and young players to do it.
It has worked, though, as the Rams have a Super Bowl and have been a perennial contender since they started doing this.
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