The Rams spent part of the lead-up to Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline looking for help at receiver, and one of the names they reportedly checked on was Ladd McConkey.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, Los Angeles reached out to the Chargers about a possible McConkey deal, but the crosstown team turned them down. Fowler said, “Fowler: The Chargers said no to at least one Ladd McConkey inquiry.
Teams I spoke to believe the Rams were the ones to make that call. Overall, though, the Rams didn't seriously consider a receiver move because they expect both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to return this season.
And in the short term, they believe Matthew Stafford can maximize the supporting cast of receivers.”
The Rams had reason to poke around. Injuries had taken Nacua and Adams out of the mix, leaving Matthew Stafford without his top two targets. Still, the team ultimately stayed quiet on the trade market.
McConkey stayed put despite the Chargers’ rough start, and the numbers show why he drew interest. Through six games, he has 17 catches for 286 yards and one touchdown, averaging 16.8 yards per reception. He also turned in one of his best outings against the Rams in Week 8, when he caught four passes for 86 yards and ripped off a season-long 54-yard grab in the Chargers’ 24-9 loss.
His production has come in waves, but he remains one of the Chargers’ key offensive pieces. That mattered even more for a team that has opened the year with eight straight losses and sits at 0-8 after Sunday’s 44-22 defeat to the Houston Texans.
The Chargers still chose not to move him, even with a record that would have made almost any veteran asset available. McConkey’s rookie season in 2024 helped explain that decision, after he posted 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Rams, meanwhile, have found their footing. Sunday’s 20-13 win over the Washington Commanders gave them a third straight victory and moved them to 5-4.
Los Angeles also looked into Josh Downs and Brian Thomas Jr. before the deadline, but Downs ended up with the Kansas City Chiefs and Thomas stayed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After that, the Rams added Xavier Smith and placed Jordan Whittington on injured reserve to shore up their receiver group.
Next up is Arizona. The Rams will try to keep the streak going Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT on CBS against the Cardinals, who are 3-6.
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