As the NFL trade deadline looms less than two weeks away, the Los Angeles Rams still face a need to bolster their wide receiver room. That need persists, even with the optimistic news on Davante Adamsreturn from injured reserve, as L.A.’s division rivals have made trade moves to upgrade their squads for the stretch run with trades already.
The Rams have added some some practice squad support
, but that’s not going to be nearly enough.Les Snead might have the will to swing a big deal, but with cap
space barely in the black — $200k according to overthecap.com — there appears sparse room to swing any moves of consequencewithout re-working some current contracts. Keeping the money situation in mind, low-cost solutions to improve wide receiver are still available.
While the Rams didn’t heed my advice on in-house receiver Brennan Presley, here are some options that are under contract with other teams. The cost of purchase would low and their salaries covered mostly by L.A.’s accompanying roster deletions. All would add special teams help immediately and possible playmaking to the offense.
Dareke Young – Las Vegas Raiders
The kind of out of the box thinking, low-cost addition that, in theory, could help on three fronts, offense, kick coverage and kickoff returns. Admittedly, Young has yet to provide any offensive fireworks in his five-year NFL career, but the basic skillset to be a playmaker is intact. He’s blessed with size (6’2” 224 lb), length (33”), and athleticism, testing a 4.44 forty, 1.54 10 yard split, 37” vertical and 11’ 7” broad jump. He compliments these markers with strength (22 bench reps), stellar agility/change of direction (6.88 3cone), and very good flexibility/burst/balance (4.19 shuttle).
The Seattle Seahawks claimed Young at #233 of Round 7 in the 2022 draft. He was a tantalizing physical traits-based prospect out of D2 Lenoir Rhyne. Young has made all five opening rosters as a pro, but has battled leg injuries (quad and hamstring). Of 75 possible games, he’s played in 49, been inactive for 12, and been out with injuries on 22 occasions (two stints on IR).
Where Young can help L.A. right away is his speed on coverage teams and kickoff returns. Since the beginning of 2025, his 12 coverage tackles would only trail Shaun Dolac’s 25 and his 28.5 yard kickoff return average would top all the Rams. Would Las Vegas give him up for a late draft pick? They would most likely be happy to get something, anything for a bottom half of the roster special teamer who’s a free agent at the end of the year.
Chimere Dike – Tennessee Titans
What a difference a year makes, in Dike’s second year as a pro he appears to have fallen out of favor with the Tennessee Titans after being named All-Pro as a rookie. He’s played in all seven games, but been limited to 13 percent of Titans offensive snaps (52) for the season. Although still the primary punt and kickoff returner, Dike was targeted 74 times in 2025 and this year, has only eight to this point.
Stellar burst (1.51 10-yard split) and speed (4.34 forty) with an easy glide style. Zero wasted effort. More of a linear mover, but still rates plus agility/change of direction (6.87 3cone) and good flexibility/burst/balance (4.25 shuttle). Top-tier leg strength/explosion (38” vertical, 10’ 8” broad). Dike shoehorns it into an well-proportioned, athletic frame at 6’ 1” 200 lb. and 32” arms.
As a receiving prospect, I grade Dike with a very high ceiling, his current struggles in Tennessee notwithstanding. His playmaking ability in the return game is gravy. Good hands and ball-tracking. Defenses must respect his speed, but he has a very good feel for settling into soft areas of zones. With the ball in his hands, he’s not a dancer, he motors like a one-cut outside zone running back using vision burst and pretty good contact balance.
With two more years on his cost-controlled rookie contract, he would, most likely, take the most capital to pry away from his current team. Under the new 2026 coaching staff, Dike may not be a fit in their plans, and the Titans will again be re-building in 2027. Packaging a late ’27 and mid ’28 draft pick or one of the Rams current receivers with a ’28 pick could seal the deal.
LaJohntay Wester – Baltimore Ravens
Diminutively-built at a touch under 5’ 10” and 165 lbs., Wester has the prototypical traits for a kick returner. Although he has good speed (4.46 forty) and burst, 1.53 10-yards split. He darts through traffic setting up blocks with vision and cuts made at speed, On offense, he fits into the motion system that allows him to operate in space. Mis-matched on safeties or linebackers, his one-cut move style and speed can lead to big plays.
A Round 7 (#203) pick in 2025 by the Baltimore Ravens, Wester is in his second season as their primary punt returner and also has returned kickoffs. His offensive service has increased over his rookie yearoverall, but working behind Zay Flowers as the Ravens slot receiver is limiting. The Rams extensive use of pre-snap motion and condensed/stack sets could be very liberating. Wester’s open-field running skills could lead to more dynamic screen passes and jet sweeps.
The value on Wester couldn’t be much, there is nary a word about his ability to be a part of the Ravens offensive future. His offensive snaps have fallen off a cliff since the first three weeks of the season. The Rams could use a little lightening in their return game. Wester is affordable, still on his rookie deal, and could likely be had for a later round pick, maybe even one in 2028.
Bo Melton – Green Bay Packers
Signed by the Seattle Seahawks at #229 of Round 7 in 2022, he was let go in final cuts and signed to the practice squad. Green Bay poached him late in December and declined to use him in those final games. 2023 saw Melton released and signed to the Packers practice squad and he bounced between it and the active roster. He gradually ramped up his reps over the course of 2024 to season high of 32 in playoff loss. For 2025, Green Bay cross trained him at cornerback, going two ways and working in as a kickoff returner. For 2026, he’s returned to offense full-time, along with his special teams duty.
Not big framed at 5’ 11” 189 lbs. and 31“ arms, Melton is loose-limbed, strong, and has outstanding athletic traits. Timed a 4.34 forty and 1.50 split, along with 4.10 shuttle and 6.81 3cone. He showed both upper and lower body strength/explosiveness with 18 reps on the bench, 38” vertical and 10’ 1” broad jump.
Versatility is the buzzword for Melton’s game and he’s actually a Rams-mold guy. Physical play style, good football IQ, and willing to block. Good depth of target rates shows he can handle the clear out responsibilities. He is an outstanding gunner, and has NFL work as a kickoff returner. Had a few punt returns in college. Does Green Bay over value him as a developable prospect and want too much? Rumors have the Pack looking to make a splash move for the stretch drive, L.A. should offer a late round pick to help them re-stock their draft coffers after such a move.
Elijah Moore – Philadelphia Eagles
Former Round 2 draft pick, taken at #34 by the New York Jets in 2021. Moore has bounced through four teams since, the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos and now resides in Philly. It’s fair to say he hasn’t lived up the draft pedigree, but is only a couple years past being a solid WR#2.
At age 26, there’s plenty of tread left on the tires. At 5’10” 180 lbs. with arms a shade over 30”, he’s not a physical specimen, but 17 reps on the bench shows good upper body strength. A 4.35 forty is elite and 1.57 10-yard split is very good, as are his agility/change of direction (6.67 3cone) and flexibility/burst/balance (4.00 shuttle). A 36” vertical and 10’ 1” broad jump denotes plus leg strength/explosiveness.
Moore is likely best suited for wide receiver work. Although there’s ample return work, both punts and kickoffs, in his college history, he’s only received a handful as a pro. He also did kick coverage in his first years with the Jets. With the Eagles fluttering downward, Moore could easily be available for a late round 2028 draft pick. Or maybe a straight one-for-one deal, Philly could reunite with center Dylan McMahon, poached off their practice squad by the Rams in 2024.
Would any of these players be an upgrade?
The answer is yes, unequivocally.
Every one of them can invigorate the kickoff return team with added speed and open-field running. After that, each offers another area of value whether it be coverage teams, punt returns, or even offense. Why should fans be content with Alex Bachman or another similar player returning kickoffs and punts? The addition of a dynamic returner would raise Jordan Whittington’s game as well. The Rams gunners are where the kick/punt coverage woes begin, are additions Jon Rhattigan, Eric Kendricks, and Garrett Nelson going to aid in alleviating that weakness?
The lack of explosive threats carries over to offense. Even though the Rams offense is statistically one of the NFL’s top-rated units, the explosive play rate is in the league’s bottom half and trending down over the last four, even in this soft part of the schedule. This is not a claim that any of theses players are going to suddenly break out and set the world ablaze, but they will add speed and unit versatility to the Rams wide receiver corps. Can fans say the same about, have confidence in, or should rely on Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington, or Tutu Atwell to offer the same?
