Rams Rumors: Draft Picks Eyed in Potential Trade Deadline Deals, NFL GM Says

The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly interested in adding draft picks ahead of the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.

According to Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, an anonymous NFL general manager said the Rams "want to make some moves and add some picks," but doubted it will happen since wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald are perhaps the only players on the roster who would interest other teams at the deadline, and aren't likely to move.

Following a 24-17 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7, the Rams enter Week 8 with a 3-4 record, which puts them third in the NFC West behind the 5-2 San Francisco 49ers and 4-2 Seattle Seahawks.

During Sean McVay's seven-year run as head coach, the Rams have typically been buyers at the deadline, and they haven't been shy about trading away draft picks.

Some of the notable trades made under McVay and general manager Les Snead include sending second and third-round picks to the Denver Broncos for pass-rusher Von Miller, trading two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for cornerback Jalen Ramsey and dealing two first-round picks, a third-round pick and quarterback Jared Goff to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Those three trades left the Rams without many high draft picks in recent years, but they also played a significant role in L.A. winning the Super Bowl two seasons ago.

With Stafford and wide receiver Cooper Kupp missing much of last season due to injury, they finished just 5-12 and missed the playoffs, and they did not have their own first-round pick since it was traded to the Lions as part of the Stafford deal.

Still, the Rams had 14 draft picks, many of which were late-rounders, and all of them made L.A.'s roster to start the 2023 season.

Some of those picks have paid immediate dividends, including pass-rusher Byron Young, who leads the team with three sacks, and fifth-round pick Puka Nacua, who leads the NFL in receptions (58) and is third in receiving yardage (752).

Given the success the Rams had in the draft this year, it makes sense that they would like to get their hands on more capital for the 2024 draft and beyond.

Also, although the Rams are in the playoff race at 3-4, they are stuck in a tough division with a pair of likely playoff teams in the Niners and Seahawks ahead of them in the NFC West.

It is difficult to envision the Rams trading a cornerstone veteran like Kupp, Donald or Stafford, especially since the team is playing solid football, but they don't have much else to offer in trades for draft picks since much of their roster is unproven.

If the Rams are unable to make a deal happen, they have their own first-, second- and third-round picks in 2024, plus two fifths and a sixth.