Van Jefferson trade grades: Rams deal veteran WR to Falcons for swap of late-round draft picks

One of the important thing storylines surrounding the Los Angeles Rams throughout the first month of the season has targeted across the large receiver place. The membership noticed the emergence of a rookie wideout in Puka Nacua and simply welcomed again famous person Cooper Kupp from IR on Sunday. Again, the receiver spot is taking middle level in L.A., however it is relating to a former top draft pick out who’s being shipped out of the city.

The membership has agreed to trade Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons, the teams announced Tuesday. The trade features a 2025 pick out swap with the Rams acquiring Atlanta’s sixth-round draft pick out that yr whilst the Falcons get Jefferson and a seventh-rounder. L.A. have been in touch with Jefferson’s agent about buying groceries the receiver and the participant have been open to discovering a brand new house within the league, which he now has with the Falcons. 

The 27-year-old used to be drafted through the Rams in 2020 out of Florida and has lately fallen out of the rotation within the passing sport. In the Week 5 loss to the Eagles, Jefferson performed simply two offensive snaps, which coincides with the go back of Kupp and the emergence of Nacua and 2021 second-round pick out Tutu Atwell. That trio used to be obviously above Jefferson at the intensity chart, so it is smart that the Rams made up our minds to transfer on and achieve an asset for the receiver, who’s within the ultimate yr of his rookie contract.

Jefferson’s very best season within the league got here in 2021 when he helped the membership to a Super Bowl LVI identify. During that common season, he began in all 17 of his video games performed and stuck 50 balls for 802 yards and 6 touchdowns. In the playoffs, he added 9 extra catches for 102 yards, together with 4 receptions in that Super Bowl win over Cincinnati. 

Since then, his totals have reduced, and has simply 8 catches for 108 yards thru 5 video games performed this season. 

Jefferson now joins a Falcons crew that has Drake London, Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller headlining the receiver room. Tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith in conjunction with rookie operating again Bijan Robinson even have been a key outlet within the passing sport for second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder. 

Trade grades

Falcons: A

This is ready as low chance, top praise trade for the Falcons. By shifting down one around on the 2025 NFL Draft, Atlanta acquires a participant who’s a former moment around pick out, possesses down-the-field pace, and has prior luck within the NFL with an 800-yard season below his belt. If Arthur Smith and the training body of workers can faucet again into Jefferson’s attainable, it may well be finally end up being one heck of a pickup. After all, he’s simplest 27. And if Jefferson does not end up to be a participant that matches within the gadget, he is a unfastened agent on the finish of the yr and it simplest price you a couple of spots on the draft. An overly profitable gamble for the Falcons. 

Rams: C

L.A. used to be by no means going to get a considerable go back for Jefferson. He’s necessarily a condominium with him being within the ultimate yr of his rookie contract, however you’ll suppose that they might be ready to in all probability get a better Day 3 variety with no need to connect a long run 7th onto Jefferson as section of the trade. The receiver does have particular pace and did produce for a time in Sean McVay’s offense. A moment bet could be in the event that they will have to have waited slightly nearer to the closing date to see if a extra vital go back sprouted up. In the top, alternatively, they achieve higher draft capital in go back for a participant that they most probably would have let stroll in unfastened company this offseason, which is not not anything.