ESPN analyst urges Rams to make another trade after 1-2 start - Rams Wire

Sitting at 1–2 after a rocky opening stretch, the Los Angeles Rams find themselves navigating an uncomfortably thin margin for error. While the early-season struggles aren't solely tied to one position group, ESPN's Ben Solak argues that general manager Les Snead needs to proactively address a glaring vulnerability before it sinks their campaign: pass-catcher depth.

The first three games showcased the need full-heartedly. Star receiver Puka Nacua has missed two games now, leaving 34-year-old receiver Davante Adams. The depth behind Adams is weak, with second-year seventh-rounder Konata Mumpfield seeing an uptick in targets and leaving Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington and Xavier Smith behind him. None of those offer much upside, even after Mumpfield had a mini-breakout in Week 3 with four catches on eight targets for 93 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown.

Even more, the tight end room is hurt. Terrance Ferguson and Colby Parkinson are dealing with injuries, leaving 33-year-old Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen and 2026 rookie Max Klare as the supporting members on the back-end.

Solak notes that the Rams shouldn’t waste capital kicking the tires on disgruntled first-round names like Marvin Harrison Jr. or Quentin Johnston. Instead, they need proven, reliable security blankets capable of swallowing high-volume targets.

They need a steady producer who can eat volume if needed. Chris Godwin Jr. might get out of Tampa Bay as the 0-3 Buccaneers pivot to younger players. Could Courtland Sutton be available from the Broncos, who are moving to a bigger diet of Jaylen Waddle and Pat Bryant? Do the Bills need both Joshua Palmer and Keon Coleman?

If this seems excessive, it should — and that's good. The Rams are in for a penny, and the most obvious route to getting in for a pound — if they're not already — is by buttressing the depth at pass catcher. It's not the reason the Rams are 1-2 right now, but now that their margins for losing games are much smaller, it's a potential hot spot that must be addressed preventatively.

All of those players would cost a variety of different amounts of draft capital this year.

Godwin might be the cheapest, but he's 30 and coming off a few injury-plagued seasons. His best days may be behind him, but he's a good intermediate target that the Rams could use in a pinch. Sutton is 30, too, but a bigger-bodied player who doesn't seem to have a role in the Broncos' offense. Both are expensive one-year rentals: Godwin has a $22 million guaranteed salary and Sutton has a $17.5 million guaranteed salary this year, per Over the Cap, but both could be released after the season.

Palmer and Coleman would be cheaper and are younger, but the Bills may not be interested in parting with important role players in their Super Bowl pursuits.

It's an interesting conundrum for the Rams to be in at the moment given their current roster, draft capital and salary cap constraints. L.A. has a league-fewest $2.5 million in salary cap space and only second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks in 2027.

A trade might be necessary, but also difficult to pull off at the moment.

If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.