In addition to the San Francisco 49ers, the Seattle Seahawks have raised the stakes in the NFC West trade race, leaving the Los Angeles Rams under pressure to respond before the deadline.
Seattle made the biggest move Tuesday, acquiring Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson from the Indianapolis Colts to strengthen its offensive line. Meanwhile, San Francisco continues to lead the division despite dealing with a lengthy injury list.
The moves have raised questions about whether Rams general manager Les Snead has another deal in mind. ESPN insider Dan Graziano believes Los Angeles could use another receiver after its offseason investments failed to deliver the expected results.
“Yeah, Tuesday was a big day in the NFC West arms race,” Graziano said. “It makes me wonder what the Rams are thinking. They obviously made their big moves in the offseason, but things haven't worked, and everyone's favorite superteam has fallen behind the 49ers and Seahawks in the division.”
The Rams entered the season with Super Bowl expectations, but are off to a disappointing 2-4 start. With Adams on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, Los Angeles has another major problem to address at receiver.
Graziano believes another addition may be necessary, particularly given the Rams' lack of a consistent deep threat alongside Puka Nacua.
Article Continues Below“I wonder whether there's another move for the Rams to make, they could use a speedy wide receiver if one is available, and whether they still have the draft picks and/or desire to add more to a roster that was already supposed to be loaded,” Graziano added.
Los Angeles has brought back Tutu Atwell and used second-year wideout Konata Mumpfield, but neither move changes the need for a reliable vertical threat to help Matthew Stafford.
With the November 10 trade deadline approaching, Snead must decide whether to spend more draft capital to keep pace with Seattle and San Francisco or trust the current roster to turn things around.