Heading into the 2026 offseason, the Los Angeles Rams were expected to need help at the third wide receiver spot. That need made sense after the draft passed without an addition, but it was still a little surprising the team never filled the role later in free agency or before training camp.
The Rams had chances to bring in Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen and passed. More recently, they could have added Darious Slayton or Brandin Cooks and again chose not to.
The Rams have tried to make do in other ways. They leaned more on their tight ends when Nacua was out and have used 13 personnel, but that doesn’t erase the problem at receiver.
Los Angeles got by against the Giants, yet New York was also very thin at cornerback. If Nacua is out again against the Broncos and Patrick Surtain takes away Davante Adams, can the Rams really count on Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith and Tutu Atwell?
That question got sharper after Week 2 against the Giants, when receivers other than Adams combined for just two catches for 31 yards. Mumpfield was targeted once and did not catch it.
Xavier Smith also had a drop. "It would be hard to trust either of those two in a big spot, but that’s where the Rams are.
As the season goes on, the Rams are expected to keep checking the market, especially with injuries to Nacua and Jordan Whittington. If they do decide to swing a trade at receiver, there are a few names that make sense.
Quentin Johnston is one of them. He’s clearly moving into bust territory with the Chargers, and in his fourth season he’s averaging only 0.48 yards per route run.
There has been some improvement over the last two years, but consistency has still been a problem. A smaller role as a third receiver could actually suit him better, because he still has the speed to threaten defenses deep.
He may not be the first-round answer the Chargers hoped for, but he can still fill a role.
A deal could also line up because the Chargers need tight end help with David Njoku injured, and the Rams have some depth there. Los Angeles probably couldn’t just swap Davis Allen or Tyler Higbee straight up for Johnston, but a tight end plus a draft pick could get something done.
Xavier Legette is another possibility. Like Johnston, he hasn’t matched his first-round billing.
He has only two catches for 64 yards this season, and in three years he has never gone over 500 yards in a season. Still, he brings something useful: return ability.
Legette is averaging 26 yards per kick return and was a weapon in that role at South Carolina. At 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, he would also give the Rams a size element they don’t really have behind the top options, and he could be an upgrade over Jordan Whittington.
The issue is that Carolina does not have much receiver depth, so the Panthers may not want to move him. Even so, for the right price, Legette could help on special teams and give the Rams another body at receiver.
Jerry Jeudy is a different kind of target. At one point, he might have been an ideal fit in Sean McVay’s offense, and he still fits the profile of an experienced third receiver.
He has been, for the most part, checked out in Cleveland, and the Browns have already drafted Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion as replacements. A contender could change the way he approaches things on the field.
Jeudy is still only 29, and he can beat man coverage while remaining a strong route-runner. The Rams would not be asking him to be their No. 2 receiver; they would be looking for a veteran option behind Nacua and Adams. He would also likely cost no more than a Day 3 pick.
Brian Thomas Jr. is another name worth monitoring. As a rookie, he nearly hit 1,300 yards and scored 10 touchdowns, which made him look like the next breakout wideout in the league.
But last season he fell to 707 yards, and through two weeks this year he has six receptions for 80 yards. Coming out of LSU, he looked like a Rams-style receiver, so if Jacksonville is willing to listen, it would be worth making the call.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is probably the least realistic option. It’s hard to imagine the Cardinals trading him, especially to a division rival.
But if Harrison does eventually find his groove, Arizona won’t want to see him twice a year. Even with that in mind, the Cardinals are in a major rebuild, and if they decide the questions about his effort matter too much, a fresh start could make sense.
The last name on the list is Marvin Mims Jr. He may be the Broncos’ WR4, but he would bring the kind of impact the Rams could use.
The comparison made is to the Seahawks trading for Rashid Shaheed last year. Mims also matters on special teams, which is a big reason Denver may be reluctant to move him.
He can win deep as a receiver, and he’s also a dangerous punt returner.
Denver probably won’t take calls on him, but the Rams should at least explore it. He would be an upgrade over Xavier Smith as a receiver and a major upgrade as a punt returner. The real question is whether he is even available.
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Injuries have only added to the uncertainty around those roles. Jordan Whittingtons absence has pushed Xavier Smith into kickoff-return duties, and the reshuffling has left the Rams trying to piece together stability on the fly. For a team that expects to contend, the special teams picture is already looking like one of those issues that can linger if it is not cleaned up soon. [Read more 🡒]