Los Angeles Rams Trade Receiver Van Jefferson To Atlanta Falcons

Suddenly, the Los Angeles Rams have an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position, and Van Jefferson has now been traded to the Atlanta Falcons as a result

Before the season began, the Los Angeles Rams seemed to have major question marks at the wide receiver position. 

Cooper Kupp was injured, and the top candidates to slide into a prominent role were rookie Puka Nacua and second-year player Tutu Atwell, as well as veteran Van Jefferson.

Now, five weeks into the season and with Kupp back in the lineup, L.A. suddenly seems to have an embarrassment of riches at the position.

As a result, Jefferson is on the move, with the Rams agreeing to trade the fourth-year wideout to the Atlanta Falcons in return for a 2025 pick swap of sixth and seventh-round picks. 

Jefferson has appeared in all five games for the Rams this season, but his involvement in the offense has dwindled every week since the opener. 

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson (12) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium / Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

In Week 1, saw five targets, making four catches for 24 yards. In Week 2, he was targeted four times, while in Week 3 and Week 4, he was targeted three times. 

On Sunday in their most recent matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Jefferson was completely invisible, playing just two snaps, and being targeted precisely zero times. 

And through those I've games, he had a total of just eight catches for 108 yards. 

Part of that is due to the return of Kupp, but it is likely the emergence of both Nacua and Atwell - both of whom are on rookie deals - that has made Jefferson so expendable. 

Combine that with the fact that Jefferson is entering a contract year, and it becomes a no-brainer of sorts to try and move on from the 27-year-old, while getting some assets back in the process.