The Los Angeles Rams already have their top two receivers in place, and that’s exactly why Deebo Samuel doesn’t make much sense.
With Puka Nacua and Davante Adams locked in, the real question in L.A. is who steps up as the third option. The Rams have a young group to sort through there, with Jordan Whittington, Xavier Smith, Konata Mumpfield and rookie CJ Daniels all in the mix for the WR3 job. That’s the lane they should be exploring, not chasing a veteran name for the sake of it.
Samuel is the latest veteran receiver being floated as a fit, but the case for him falls apart pretty quickly. Stefon Diggs is still out there, too, but the Rams don’t need that kind of drama.
DeAndre Hopkins offers a calmer path, though the upside is limited and the upgrade would be marginal at best. Samuel sits somewhere in between: more juice than Hopkins, cheaper than Diggs, and still not the right answer.
Last season in Washington, Samuel posted 72 catches for 727 yards and five touchdowns, plus one rushing score. That’s respectable production, but it came in a very specific context.
He was the Commanders’ leading receiver, and during the seven games Terry McLaurin missed, Samuel functioned as WR1. Jaylin Lane finished third among Washington wideouts with just 225 receiving yards, so Samuel wasn’t exactly battling for targets in a crowded room.
Even that version of Samuel is not the one the Rams would be getting. He’s entering Year 8, well removed from his peak with the 49ers, and his durability and attitude questions still linger.
He also would not be walking into a target-rich setup in Los Angeles. Behind Nacua and Adams, there simply wouldn’t be 99 looks waiting for him, and if he wasn’t satisfied with his share before, that problem wouldn’t get better here.
The money would be another issue. Samuel would want more than the rookie-scale deals the younger receivers are on, and Spotrac estimates his annual value at $15.77 million on a two-year contract. That’s a steep price for a player who would be asked to fill a limited role while potentially blocking the growth of the guys the Rams actually need to evaluate.
That’s the bigger point. Adams is already the veteran presence in the room.
The Rams do not need another older receiver just to have one. What Sean McVay needs is a real answer on Whittington, Smith, Mumpfield and Daniels.
Those players need snaps, targets and a chance to show who can become something more than depth.
If McVay wants another wrinkle, he can turn to tight end Terrance Ferguson as a hybrid receiver. Ferguson already flashed some upside in that role as a rookie.
For this season and the future beyond it, the Rams need to find out what they have in-house. They are not looking for a WR3 who needs 60 catches and 800 yards.
Even half that production might be enough. With Adams on an expiring deal and turning 34 this season, L.A. has to learn what kind of depth it already has.
Adding Samuel wouldn’t answer that question. It would just bring in a declining player, pay him like more than a stopgap, and crowd out the younger options the Rams need to develop. That’s not a move worth making.
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