Tavon Austin Traded to Cowboys; Rams Receive 6th-Round NFL Draft Pick

The Los Angeles Rams agreed to trade wide receiver Tavon Austin to the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday in exchange for a sixth-round pick (No. 192 overall), less than two years after they inked him to a four-year, $42 million contract extension.

Austin's speed has long been his greatest asset, but he's never emerged as one of the league's premier vertical threats. 

His most prolific season to date came in 2015, when he managed 907 yards from scrimmage, 434 of which came on carries out of the backfield. And while Austin posted a career-high 509 receiving yards in 2016, his 8.8 yards-per-reception average wasn't exactly a sight to behold. 

Austin's stats came tumbling down even more during Sean McVay's first year at the helm. All told, he had a career-low 13 receptions for 47 yards to complement 59 carries for 270 yards and a touchdown. 

Following Saturday's trade, Austin should find himself in more comfortable surroundings as he seeks to evolve into a consistent threat—no matter how he receives his touches. 

"I'm just the type of guy who wants the ball in my hands any type of way," Austin told ESPN.com's Alden Gonzalez in June. "It might be vertically, or jet sweeps, screens, it doesn't really matter to me. I just want the ball in my hands any way I can get it."

Still just 27 years old, Austin should be motivated to prove his struggles in Los Angeles were the product of his environment and not his skill set. 

If the Cowboys demonstrate a commitment to deploying him in new and unique ways, there's a good chance Austin could finally reach his potential and live up to the hefty deal he signed with the Rams.