With the trade deadline just a week away, rumors and speculation are buzzing about potential moves, particularly for the Los Angeles Rams, who have an aggressive general manager in Les Snead.
While it’s tempting to think about the Rams trading draft picks, the reality of the salary cap often complicates those discussions. Teams may want to make trades but may lack the cap space to accommodate a player’s contract.
For the Rams, this cap issue will be a significant hurdle over the next week. While they might pull off a minor trade, a major acquisition that could alter their trajectory seems unlikely due to salary cap constraints. Currently, the Rams have just over $2 million in cap space, which is sufficient for practice squad elevations or bringing in a free agent, but not much else. To make a meaningful move, a team typically needs around $5 million to $7 million in cap space.
The Rams don’t have many options to free up cap space at this point. One possibility is trading cornerback Tre White, which could clear about $1.3 million—still only enough for practice squad adjustments. Another option might be restructuring Cooper Kupp’s contract to lower his future cap hits while creating some space for this season. This approach mirrors what the Rams did with Matthew Stafford in the offseason, converting his deal to essentially a one-year, $40 million contract.
However, any restructuring would likely depend on finding the right trade opportunity. With a 3-4 record, the Rams may choose to focus on the rest of the season and plan for a more aggressive approach next year.
While a trade would be appealing, the salary cap limits the Rams’ ability to be serious contenders in the market. They currently have the fourth-lowest cap space in the NFL, behind only the Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Carolina Panthers. Nonetheless, this situation isn’t necessarily negative; it allows the Rams to prioritize drafting young talent to build for the future instead of acquiring short-term rentals.
