One of many key storylines surrounding the Los Angeles Rams by way of the primary month of the season has centered across the large receiver place. The membership noticed the emergence of a rookie wideout in Puka Nacua and simply welcomed again celebrity Cooper Kupp from IR on Sunday. Once more, the receiver spot is taking heart stage in L.A., nevertheless it’s relating to a former excessive draft choose who’s being shipped out of city.
The membership has agreed to commerce Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons, the teams announced Tuesday. The commerce features a 2025 choose swap with the Rams acquiring Atlanta’s sixth-round draft choose that yr whereas the Falcons get Jefferson and a seventh-rounder. L.A. had been involved with Jefferson’s agent about purchasing the receiver and the participant had been open to discovering a brand new dwelling within the league, which he now has with the Falcons.
The 27-year-old was drafted by the Rams in 2020 out of Florida and has lately fallen out of the rotation within the passing recreation. Within the Week 5 loss to the Eagles, Jefferson performed simply two offensive snaps, which coincides with the return of Kupp and the emergence of Nacua and 2021 second-round choose Tutu Atwell. That trio was clearly above Jefferson on the depth chart, so it is smart that the Rams determined to maneuver on and achieve an asset for the receiver, who’s within the remaining yr of his rookie contract.
Jefferson’s greatest season within the league got here in 2021 when he helped the membership to a Super Bowl LVI title. Throughout that common season, he began in all 17 of his video games performed and caught 50 balls for 802 yards and 6 touchdowns. Within the playoffs, he added 9 extra catches for 102 yards, together with 4 receptions in that Tremendous Bowl win over Cincinnati.
Since then, his totals have decreased, and has simply eight catches for 108 yards by way of 5 video games performed this season.
Jefferson now joins a Falcons crew that has Drake London, Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller headlining the receiver room. Tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith together with rookie operating again Bijan Robinson even have been a key outlet within the passing recreation for second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder.
Commerce grades
Falcons: A
That is about as low threat, excessive reward commerce for the Falcons. By shifting down one spherical on the 2025 NFL Draft, Atlanta acquires a participant who’s a former second spherical choose, possesses down-the-field velocity, and has prior success within the NFL with an 800-yard season underneath his belt. If Arthur Smith and the teaching employees can faucet again into Jefferson’s potential, it might be find yourself being one heck of a pickup. In any case, he’s solely 27. And if Jefferson does not show to be a participant that matches within the system, he is a free agent on the finish of the yr and it solely value you a number of spots on the draft. A really worthwhile gamble for the Falcons.
Rams: C
L.A. was by no means going to get a considerable return for Jefferson. He is basically a rental with him being within the remaining yr of his rookie contract, however you’d assume that they’d be capable to probably get a better Day 3 choice with out having to connect a future seventh onto Jefferson as a part of the commerce. The receiver does have particular velocity and did produce for a time in Sean McVay’s offense. A second guess can be if they need to have waited a bit nearer to the deadline to see if a extra important return sprouted up. Ultimately, nonetheless, they achieve larger draft capital in return for a participant that they probably would have let stroll in free company this offseason, which is not nothing.
