With the Indianapolis Colts tearing into their roster ahead of the 2026 NFL trade deadline, the Los Angeles Rams look like the next NFC West team that could cash in.
The Colts have already moved on from left guard Quenton Nelson and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, two of the biggest names in their trenches. Nelson went to the Seattle Seahawks for a 3rd-round pick in 2027 and a 5th-round pick in 2028, while Buckner was dealt back to the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted him in 2016, for a 4th-round pick in 2027.
Those moves already reshape the NFC West picture. Seattle and San Francisco both got stronger, and with two weeks left before the deadline, the Colts still have one more player who could fit into that same division race: Josh Downs.
The Rams just lost star wide receiver Davante Adams to IR with a ruptured hamstring, and he’s expected to miss 6-10 weeks. That kind of injury is a major blow in the middle of the season, especially for a receiver trying to return during the year.
Even if Adams does make it back for a playoff run, the Rams can’t ignore the durability questions around Puka Nacua, who has had his own injury concerns in the NFL. That makes receiver depth a real issue, not a side note.
Downs would plug that hole neatly. He has 26 receptions for 307 yards this season and is averaging a career-high 11.8 yards per catch. He’s also in the final year of his rookie deal, with a base salary under $4 million.
Sean McVay’s offense leans heavily on multiple tight end looks, maybe more than any other team in the league, but that hasn’t erased the need for more help at wideout. The Rams paid big for Matthew Stafford, passed on another offensive weapon in the 2026 NFL Draft, and now they’re feeling the effects of that decision.
For Les Snead, that’s the kind of opening he rarely passes up. And with the Colts already willing to move pieces, the Rams have a clean trade path in front of them.
In Other News...
Colts Just Sent A Brutal Message About This Offseason Reset
The Colts have spent the offseason signaling that the reset is more than a tweak, and moving on from DeForest Buckner only sharpened that message. Buckner had been one of the most established pieces on the roster since arriving in Indianapolis in 2020, a three-time Pro Bowler who gave the defense some credibility even as the bigger picture around the team kept shifting.
Indianapolis sent Buckner to San Francisco in exchange for a future draft pick, continuing a run of roster decisions that also included trading Quenton Nelson and clearing cap space. For a franchise trying to redraw its identity, the moves point to a longer-view approach, even if it means parting with proven veterans and leaving plenty of questions about how the lineup will look when the dust settles. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Kicking Concern They Can't Ignore
Spencer Shrader had been one of the steadier parts of the Colts early-season picture, so a rough afternoon against the Vikings stood out immediately. After a strong start to the 2026 season, the Indianapolis kicker missed two field goals in Week 7, turning what had looked like a settled spot into a sudden concern for a team trying to keep its footing.
The bigger issue is how the misses unfolded, because Shrader acknowledged after the game that the first one affected the next try. Whether the problem is physical, mental, or some mix of both is still unclear, but the Colts now have to sort through a kicking situation they probably did not expect to be debating this deep into the season. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Suddenly Have A Backfield Problem They Can't Ignore
The Giants surprising start has come with a short leash on roster depth, and now their backfield is the latest area forcing attention. Tyrone Tracy Jr. is headed to injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, a development that will keep him out for at least four games and leave New York thinner at running back at a time when every win matters in a tight NFC East race.
Cam Skattebo is also dealing with a minor injury, which only sharpens the concern around a unit the Giants can ill afford to patch together on the fly. With a 4-2-1 record and first place in the division, they have managed to keep the season moving in the right direction, but the running back rotation is suddenly a problem they will have to solve without much margin for error. [Read more 🡒]