Los Angeles Rams Receive Mixed Grades For Van Jefferson Trade With Atlanta Falcons

With the rise of rookie Puka Nacua, the Los Angeles Rams sent depth receiver Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday.

Van Jefferson was a key piece of the Los Angeles Rams' offense not too long ago, but a lot can change in just a short time.

A 2020 second-round pick out of Florida, Jefferson quickly rose to be a solid No. 3 receiver for the Rams. His breakout season came in 2021, when he had 50 receptions for 809 yards and six touchdowns, typically serving as a deep threat in the slot alongside Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods/Odell Beckham Jr.

After an injury plagued 2022 season, though, Jefferson had largely lost his role in the offense. Even with Kupp missing the start of the season, Jefferson fell behind the likes of Tutu Atwell and rookie sensation Puka Nacua on the Rams' depth chart. Now that Kupp is back, it was hard to see him getting much playing time going forward.

The Rams clearly thought as such, as they sent him to the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday for just a swap of late-round picks in 2025. Much like their trade of Cam Akers to the Minnesota Vikings a few weeks earlier, the Rams are just hoping to get some value out of a player that wasn't in their future plans.

Jefferson makes a touchdown grab against the Arizona Cardinals / © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Like with any trade, it didn't take long for media outlets to react to the move. Across the board, the Rams drew mixed reactions for their transaction. ESPN's Seth Walder gave the Rams a "B-" grade, praising the team for at least getting something in return for Jefferson.

"Two weeks ago, he played 86% of the Rams' snaps. It's a little surprising that the team would already give up on him for almost nothing, considering it may need him again in case of injury," Walder wrote. "Then again, the Rams may feel it's better to get almost nothing for him now than literally nothing in the offseason when his contract is up."

The sentiment of the Rams getting something at all for Jefferson was a common one, but some viewed it differently than others. CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan was more negative on the trade, giving the Rams a "C" grade.

"L.A. was never going to get a substantial return for Jefferson. He's essentially a rental with him being in the final year of his rookie contract, but you'd think that they'd be able to possibly get a higher Day 3 selection without having to attach a future seventh onto Jefferson as part of the trade... In the end, however, they gain greater draft capital in return for a player that they likely would have let walk in free agency this offseason, which isn't nothing."

Jefferson finishes Rams tenure with 101 receptions for 1,499 yards and 10 touchdowns. Now he joins a Falcons team chock full of talented skill players as they hope to help second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder develop.