Les Snead and the Los Angeles Rams have created a reputation over the last 8 seasons for wheeling and dealing. In year one of the Sean McVay era, the Rams acquired Sammy Watkins from the Buffalo Bills. Then in 2018, Los Angeles traded for Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Brandin Cooks, and Dante Fowler. Jalen Ramsey, Austin Corbett, and Kenny Young were added in 2019. Finally, Matthew Stafford, Sony Michel, and Von Miller were three more trade acquisitions in 2021. In short, when the Rams have felt close to having a Super Bowl contending team, they have made moves.
Heading into the 2025 season, the Rams are poised to be an NFC contender after making the playoffs in 2023 and 2024 with a relatively young team. Shockingly, Les Snead has not traded for anyone thus far. But that does not mean that they couldn’t make a move. The recent rumor is that Jalen Ramsey could be reuniting with the organization he spent time with from 2019 - 2022. However, cornerback is not the only position that could be upgraded for LA. Devin Lloyd of the Jacksonville Jaguars could be another realistic option, if not now, potentially during the season. Lloyd is a former first rounder (a favorite target of Les Snead) and was highly productive coming out of Utah. He is entering his fourth year with the Jags but the organization elected to not pick up his fifth-year option. This does not mean Devin Lloyd is on the trade block, but with Jacksonville trying to rebuild under James Gladstone, the team could be inclined to acquire draft picks.
Why a trade makes sense
Lloyd is the third Jaguar first rounder (from 2020-2022 drafts) to not have his fifth year option picked up.
Trading capital for Devin Lloyd might not be as costly in the long run as one might think. While he is considered a top linebacker in the NFL, his contract is set to expire. The Jaguars will only be able to fetch so much in return. If the Rams traded for Lloyd and failed to resign him, the Rams would qualify for a compensatory pick. That compensatory pick could then offset the capital used to acquire Lloyd.
Lloyd is only set to earn $4.1 million this season so financially a move would be feasible for both parties. Over the past two years, his 81.1 PFF overall grade is the 10th best among qualified linebackers, and his 91.0 PFF run-defense grade ranks fourth. He also placed himself among the position’s best tacklers last year with a microscopic 4.5% missed tackle rate. Lloyd is an immediate upgrade for a team that has not had a lot of linebacker production other than Ernest Jones (2021) and Bobby Wagner (2022).
Why a trade doesn’t make sense
LA already has Troy Reeder, Omar Speights, Nate Landman, Chris Paul Jr, and Shaun Dolac, an undrafted free agent with upside to make the final roster. In all likelihood, only four (max) of them will make the final cut. It would seem that Sean McVay and Chris Shula give opportunity to their in-house candidates before making a move.
The other reason is that Los Angeles has rarely prioritized the inside linebacker position from a financial or personnel standpoint.
While we are months away from the season beginning, it doesn’t hurt to speculate what the Rams may consider for their personnel mid-season as they pursue a third Lombardi in franchise history.
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