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...
Rams May Have A Short-Term Answer To Their Kicker Problem
Kicking issues have a way of surfacing at the worst possible time, and around the league there is already speculation that Tennessee veteran Joey Slye could be part of the next round of roster shuffling. Slye is on an expiring contract with a $2 million cap hit, and analyst Jason La Canfora pointed to him as a possible trade candidate if teams decide they need a steadier leg before the season drifts any further.
For the Rams, that sort of move would fit the kind of short-term fix teams often explore when the position becomes unsettled. Slye has bounced around the league since going undrafted in 2019, and he has handled himself well in Tennessee this year, making 10 of 11 field goals and all of his extra-point attempts in seven games. If Los Angeles is looking for a veteran answer rather than waiting on internal options, he would be one of the more obvious names to monitor. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Suddenly Have 4 Young Auditions Fans Should Be Watching
Injuries have opened the door for a few younger Rams to make their case, and Week 7 offered a useful snapshot of who might be worth tracking beyond this season. Shaun Dolac, Davis Allen, Ty Hamilton and Konata Mumpfield each got a chance to show what they can bring, giving the Rams a better sense of which developmental pieces could grow into larger responsibilities down the line.
The immediate focus is still on surviving the present, but the longer view is getting harder to ignore. None of these auditions guarantees a major role, yet the Rams are clearly learning which players can handle more than spot duty, and that matters with an eye toward 2027. For now, the most interesting part is not a roster decision already made, but the possibility that several young contributors are starting to turn opportunity into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Are Still Waiting On A Huge Pass Rush Boost
The Rams have spent the past few weeks waiting for a familiar kind of lift on defense, and Myles Garrett could be the one to provide it. After missing six games following knee surgery, the pass rusher is nearing a possible return to practice, a sign that Los Angeles may finally be close to getting back one of the pieces it has been missing up front.
Sean McVay still has not put a timeline on the move, saying the next step will come after he confers with the medical staff and Garrett himself. But the possibility of him getting back on the field in practice this week, with a chance to be available in Week 8, gives the Rams a reason to keep an eye on the injury report and the state of a defense that could use the boost. [Read more 🡒]