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Will the Rams Trade for a Receiver? NFL Analyst Says It’s Required to Contend
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- Will the Rams Trade for a Receiver? NFL Analyst Says It’s Required to Contend
Matthew Stafford has been looking for one receiver lately, and it's hard to blame him. Puka Nacua caught 11 of his 12 targets for 80 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 24-9 win over the Chargers, a result that got the Rams back to .500 . The passing game rarely went anywhere else, and that's why The Athletic's Nate Atkins, who covers the team every day, says the front office has one more move to make. "If the Rams still plan on making the playoffs and contending with Matthew Stafford, they need to trade for a wide receiver," Atkins wrote Wednesday .
He didn't pretend it would be easy. "The budget is very thin. But they need to get creative and aggressive, one more time," Atkins added in promoting his column . The Rams have almost no cap space left, according to Over The Cap, and Cleveland owns their 2027 first-round pick, so any deal would take a restructure or salary going back .
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Why the Rams need another target for Matthew Stafford
Nov 1, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) drops back to pass against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Davante Adams' hamstring is at the root of it. Adams had cleanup surgery, and Sean McVay expects him back on the shorter end of a six-to-10-week timeline. Until then, the drop-off behind Nacua is steep. Nacua posted a 78.6 offensive grade against the Chargers, according to PFF, while Konata Mumpfield graded at 49.2 on 27 snaps. Tutu Atwell (72.2 receiving grade) played only 21 snaps.
Stafford finished 17 of 25 for 157 yards with a touchdown pass and an interception. After the game, Atkins wrote that it's "why they have to consider a trade for a wide receiver Stafford can trust," in his Week 8 takeaways .
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So will they actually do it? McVay hasn't tipped his hand. "That's not something that we've talked about right now," he said last week. ESPN lists the Rams as a fit for Vikings receiver Jauan Jennings, and we've looked at whether Josh Downs makes sense for a Rams team short on draft picks . Indianapolis reportedly wants a third-round pick for Downs , which tells you what a modest move might cost.
Roster spots are already moving. The Rams released receiver Alex Bachman on Wednesday and need a new punt returner, Atkins reported , before bringing Bachman back to the practice squad. They face the Commanders next, and the Nov. 10 deadline arrives two days later. With Myles Garrett's practice window now open , the defense may get its reinforcement soon. The offense is still waiting for its own.
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This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
