The Los Angeles Rams went all-in this offseason. Now, they're doing it again – only this time with their own guys.
Rather than bringing in some outside help at wide receiver, kicker or punt returner, the Rams are trusting the roster they built over the course of months by standing pat at the trade deadline
. They didn't make a single move, passing on the opportunity to add someone like Josh Downs or Keenan Allen, both of whom were moved by the Colts.The question is, will they regret this gamble?
It's hard to say because the Rams found themselves in a weird limbo state. On the one hand, they're more than talented enough to win the Super Bowl. On the other, they're so banged up and the loss of Puka Nacua for even four games might be too much to overcome
on their path to the playoffs.
The Rams offense has been underwhelming all year with Nacua. It's scary to think about what it will look like without him catching 14 passes and seeing nearly half of Matthew Stafford's targets like he did on Sunday against the Commanders.
I mean, the Rams had 343 yards in that game, and Nacua had 170 of them. After his 150 receiving yards, the next-closest player had 20. T-W-E-N-T-Y.
No one is denying that the Rams could've used a wide receiver. Even a veteran past his prime like Allen would've been a big lift. And Downs could've helped on punt returns, too. But there would've been a cost to acquiring one of those players.
Downs cost the Chiefs a fourth- and fifth-rounder, with a seventh-rounder going back to Kansas City. Allen cost the 49ers a sixth-rounder.
Those weren't astronomical prices to pay, but for a team like the Rams that currently has just four picks in the 2027 draft and is missing its second-rounder in 2028, they were limited with the assets they could afford to trade away. Had the Rams traded their fourth- and fifth-round picks for Downs like the Chiefs did, they would've been left with one pick in the first four rounds of next year's draft (pending compensatory picks).
And for a team that will need to rebuild its roster with young talent, it can be hard to part with valuable draft picks – especially considering how often the Rams hit on mid-to-late-rounders.
There's a chance they'll regret not making a move for a receiver. Or a kicker. Or a reliable, impactful return specialist. But at the same time, it's easy to understand why they didn't. Their road to the playoffs just became a lot tougher, and it was incredibly difficult to begin with because of the quality of their opponents. Now it's just a matter of surviving the next four games (or so) until reinforcements come.
Maybe they think Davante Adams will be back right after the bye, which would be huge. Maybe Terrance Ferguson can return in Week 12, too. If that's the case, the Rams will only have to go one more game with Adams, Nacua and Ferguson all out.
Maybe that's the reason the Rams stood pat and feel confident enough in Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell and CJ Daniels – as hard as that is to believe, given their lack of involvement this season – to go a few more games as the top receivers.
The defense is more than good enough. Now it's on Sean McVay and the offense to adapt and adjust without some of their top playmakers.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Will the Rams regret not making any moves at the trade deadline?
