Heading into 2026, the Los Angeles Rams are once again in position to take a more ‘all in’ approach if that’s something that they choose to do. It’s a different spot than where the Rams have been over the last few years when the goal has been to re-tool the roster while remaining competitive.
With two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Rams will have a decision to make. Will they use one of those picks for a more proven player in a trade and borrow from 2027 draft capital if needed or do
they stick with the status quo and simply add two top-50 players?
If the Rams were to make a big trade and move draft capital, it would need to be for a player that would make that type of move worth it. Two names that have consistently been brought up are Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie.
The price for both players would be significant. For a player like Crosby, the trade package would have to start with two first-round picks because of the demand for the player. Crosby is one of the premier edge rushers in the NFL and still just 28 years old. From the Rams’ perspective, adding Crosby would help take some pressure off of Jared Verse as he enters year three. Crosby has 10 or more sacks in three of the last four years. Moving on from Byron Young, who has hit his ceiling, in addition to draft picks could make sense in the short-term.
Meanwhile, a player like McDuffie may cost less and also helps address a significant position of need for the Rams. The Rams are in search of a top cornerback and adding an All-Pro cornerback like McDuffie would certainly fill that need. Back in 2018, the Rams traded a fourth-round pick and future second-round pick to the Chiefs for Marcus Peters. The price for McDuffie would likely be about the same. Pick 29 and a mid-round pick may be enough to get it done.
Crosby and McDuffie are the two premier names, but the Rams may also be keeping tabs on wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Jaylen Waddle if either become available.
As with any trade in the NFL, it’s much more complicated than just swapping players and draft picks. There’s usually also money involved, which will be the case with both Crosby and McDuffie. Any team that trades for Crosby will be responsible for $30 million in 2026. Given that Crosby has no guaranteed money after this season, the team that acquires him will also have more pressure to get a contract extension done, especially if first-round picks are involved. For a player like Crosby, it’s possible that he commands something close to $40 million per year.
In McDuffie’s case, the Rams wouldn’t take on as much money in 2026 as it would be just $13.6 million. However, McDuffie is in the final year of his rookie deal. If the Rams were to trade multiple draft picks to the Chiefs for McDuffie, there is added pressure to get a contract extension done. It’s the only reason why the Chiefs would even consider trading their All-Pro cornerback. They are currently $3 million over the cap and need to open up space.
According to Spotrac, McDuffie’s current market value for a contract would be four years, $111.5 million which is $27.75 million per year. The Rams have plenty of future money with $181 million available in 2027 and over $300 million in cap space in 2028. However, that’s more of a result of not having a lot of players tied into those years. The Rams have a lot of extensions coming up with Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson, and Warren McClendon.
Nacua is likely going to demand top wide receiver money that makes him the highest-paid player at the position. His market value is four years, $154.1 million which is $38.5 million per year. The current market value of the other players:
- Kevin Dotson: 3 years, $57.3 million ($19.1 million/year)
- Steve Avila: 4 years, $70.2 million ($17.6 million/year)
- Byron Young: 4 years, $112.2 million ($28.1 million/year)
- Kobie Turner: 4 years, $99.7 million ($24.9 million/year)
Just using the averages of those five players, it’s $128.8 million which would leave just over $50 million for the rest of the roster in 2027. Add McDuffie into the mix at $27.8 million and it’s even less. The Rams can obviously structure contracts to front-load or back-load them to balance out the cap. However, it helps paint the picture that the Rams can’t pay everybody and if they trade for McDuffie, it might mean moving on from Young.
A trade for Crosby isn’t just multiple first-round picks and a potential player. It’s all of that, a $30 million cap hit this year, and a new contract with a pay raise and more guaranteed money. A trade for McDuffie isn’t just for multiple draft picks. It’s the draft picks in addition to a contract extension that makes McDuffie one of the highest-paid cornerbacks.
For the Rams, is a player like Crosby worth that? Given how many resources that the Rams have put into the pass rush, the answer is probably no. However, given the Rams’ need at cornerback and that McDuffie is still just 25 years old, it’s a move that makes sense even with a contract. The Rams may be able to spend less on free agents such as Jamel Dean or Riq Woolen. However, Dean is heading into his age 30 season and Woolen is unproven as a team’s top cornerback. Again, McDuffie is 25 and has been the top cornerback for the Chiefs each of the last two years. It’s also worth noting his connection to Rams defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake who coached McDuffie at Washington.
This isn’t to say whether or not the Rams should or shouldn’t trade for a star player. However, it’s more complicated than just swapping draft picks when contracts become involved. When that’s the case, it needs to make sense long-term with more monetary and future draft capital risk involved. The Rams have done this dance several times before, but heading into what might be Matthew Stafford’s final season, they need to get it right.
