Sean McVay Explains Los Angeles Rams Trade of Van Jefferson

Following the return of Cooper Kupp and the emergence of rookie receiver Puka Nacua, the Los Angeles Rams traded away Van Jefferson.

Two years after being a contributor on a Super Bowl-winning team, fourth-year receiver Van Jefferson was traded from the Los Angeles Rams, the franchise that drafted him out of Florida in 2020, to the Atlanta Falcons. 

But why, after all, Jefferson looked like a name on the rise following the 2021 season when he finished second on the team in receiving with 50 receptions for 809 yards and six touchdowns?

"You've had some other guys that have done a really good job," Rams coach Sean McVay said on Wednesday about the decision to trade Jefferson. "You get Cooper [Kupp] back in the mix, and he's a really capable player, even when I said to you guys the other day. I didn't anticipate him playing two snaps, but I think he felt like those opportunities would be better for him. He's in the last year of his contract, and that felt like something we were kind of able to accommodate both sides."

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson (12) stretches for a deep pass as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple (20) defends in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl 56, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif / Kareem Elgazzar - USA TODAY NETWORK

Like many of the Rams' top players last season, Jefferson missed time with an injury. The former Gator missed the first six games following his breakout 2021 season, and while he showed flashes of his former self, he never did put it all back together as he recorded just 24 receptions for 369 yards and three touchdowns.

Now, while that drop in production could be blamed on the inconsistency at quarterback play as the Rams started four different signal-callers last year, even with starting quarterback Matthew Stafford fully healthy this season, Van Jefferson looked like an afterthought in a Kupp-less offense. 

Combine Jefferson's lack of production through five games, as he totaled eight receptions for 108 yards, and the emergence of fifth-round rookie receiver Puka Nacua it gave the Rams the flexibility to go ahead and cash in on Jefferson's trade value instead of letting him walk away in free agency next offseason.