I hopped on the @BleavNetwork Rams podcast to break down the Trent McDuffie blockbuster trade.
Fun conversation talking through how this deal happened, scheme fit and what could come next:
youtu.be/8u02DzUsUrA?...
I hopped on the @BleavNetwork Rams podcast to break down the Trent McDuffie blockbuster trade.
Fun conversation talking through how this deal happened, scheme fit and what could come next:
youtu.be/8u02DzUsUrA?...
The Rams paid a big cost to acquire Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs. And when they sign him to a top-of-market deal, the total cost will look massive.
But it’s also not as big of a cost to them as it might seem.
Let me explain: www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
The Rams paid a big cost to acquire Trent McDuffie from the Chiefs. And when they sign him to a top-of-market deal, the total cost will look massive.
But it’s also not as big of a cost to them as it might seem.
Let me explain: www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
My column on the Rams’ blockbuster trade for Trent McDuffie.
Why this trade was always a likely outcome, why it had to happen now — and what comes next: www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
My column on the Rams’ blockbuster trade for Trent McDuffie.
Why this trade was always a likely outcome, why it had to happen now — and what comes next: www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
NEW: In trading for Trent McDuffie, the Rams showed they are all in on the Super Bowl.
But there’s much more to it than meets the eye.
My column on how Les Snead went from “Eff them picks” to “Deploy them picks” and opened up so many new possibilities:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
NEW: In trading for Trent McDuffie, the Rams showed they are all in on the Super Bowl.
But there’s much more to it than meets the eye.
My column on how Les Snead went from “Eff them picks” to “Deploy them picks” and opened up so many new possibilities:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
Fleshing it out in a column right now, but it’s mostly just total cost absorption. Between draft picks and contract dollars, this is one of the most expensive moves they could make — but with a clear, near goal in mind.
04.03.2026 20:37 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 3 📌 0
Analysis on the Rams-Chiefs blockbuster trade of All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie, with @jessenewell.bsky.social and @diannarussini.bsky.social:
🏈 Why KC would deal a 25-year-old All-Pro
🏈 Why the Rams could not pass it up
🏈 How McDuffie fits with Quentin Lake and the ‘D’
www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
Analysis on the Rams-Chiefs blockbuster trade of All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie, with @jessenewell.bsky.social and @diannarussini.bsky.social:
🏈 Why KC would deal a 25-year-old All-Pro
🏈 Why the Rams could not pass it up
🏈 How McDuffie fits with Quentin Lake and the ‘D’
www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
The Rams’ trade with the Falcons produced gold for the franchise. Just maybe not in the QB-centric way it felt like at the time.
They just traded a 1st-rounder for All-Pro CB Trent McDuffie and still have a 1st-rounder (No. 13) that is 16 spots higher than where they finished.
The Los Angeles Rams secondary will now be built on the backs of two kids who grew up in Southern California:
S Quentin Lake (Mater Dei)
CB Trent McDuffie (St. John Bosco)
Pretty damn cool.
From early this morning before the trade:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...
More on the Chiefs trading All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams, with @nateatkins.bsky.social and @jessenewell.bsky.social:
04.03.2026 17:07 — 👍 41 🔁 3 💬 1 📌 1
*representatives, not reputation
Autocorrect is in offseason mode 😂
Les Snead sounds like a GM ready to be aggressive to maximize Matthew Stafford’s window:
- Open to trading a 1st-rounder for a proven player
- Secondary a big focus — “Is there an All-Pro that you could add?”
- Trade talks are intense this time of year and they’re having them
Les Snead said he’s been in touch with Matthew Stafford’s reputation and those conversations are in a “stable place.”
Meanwhile, they have not had those conversations with Davante Adams, who is also headed into the final year of his contract.
Sean McVay said the Rams and Matthew Stafford have had good dialogue as they work through his contract situation.
Stafford is entering the final year of his deal at age 38, fresh off his first MVP campaign.
Sean McVay said he “absolutely” wants to bring Jimmy Garoppolo back as his backup quarterback if he can but also knows he’ll have a market in free agency.
03.03.2026 16:29 — 👍 6 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 1
Sean McVay described the departure of DBs coach and assistant head coach Aubrey Pleasant as a challenging decision after 7 years together but that he felt it was best for both sides to move on.
Kliff Kingsbury is the new assistant head coach and Jimmy Lake is the new DBs coach.
Sean McVay on new assistant head coach Kliff Kingsbury:
“What’s intriguing about it is it’s been different from what we’ve done. And just because it’s different doesn’t mean it can’t be better.”
Nathan Scheelhaase will be the offensive coordinator. McVay will continues to call plays.
Rams draft big board 1.0:
I broke down 15 first-round options for their picks at Nos. 13 and 29, broken into these categories:
🏈 Home-run swings (5)
🏈 Great talent with a caveat (4)
🏈 Back-end first-round options (6)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...
The Rams tendered 3 exclusive rights free agents:
K Harrison Mevis
OG Justin Dedich
WR Xavier Smith
Rams draft big board 1.0:
I broke down 15 first-round options for their picks at Nos. 13 and 29, broken into these categories:
🏈 Home-run swings (5)
🏈 Great talent with a caveat (4)
🏈 Back-end first-round options (6)
www.nytimes.com/athletic/707...
Honored to place top 10 in Long Features at the Associated Press Sports Editors awards for the last big swing I took at the Indy Star.
On how Jermaine O’Neal Jr. brought Jermaine O’Neal Sr. back to the Pacers, 20 years after the brawl:
www.indystar.com/story/sports...
Ranking the Rams’ top 5 positional needs at the combine…
1. Cornerback
.
.
.
5. Quarterback
Let’s break it down:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...
Time to rank the Rams’ top 5 needs entering the combine.
No. 1 is pretty indisputable, but it’s interesting to size up the next four.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...
Time to rank the Rams’ top 5 needs entering the combine.
No. 1 is pretty indisputable, but it’s interesting to size up the next four.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...
Your Rams offseason handbook is here.
A one-stop shop for where they stand entering free agency and the combine with cap space, draft picks and roster needs.
I also rank their top 5 positional needs:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/706...
Aubrey Pleasant is no longer listed as a member of the coaching staff.
Jimmy Lake will take over as the defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator for the defense.