[brid autoplay=”true” video=”711291″ player=”23231″ title=”Winners%20losers%20from%20blockbuster%20Matthew%20Stafford%20trade%20to%20Los%20Angeles%20Rams” duration=”164″ description=”Matthew Stafford is headed to the Los Angeles Rams, a trade that shocked the NFL world and dramatically impacts the 2021 NFL season and far beyond. Just days after the Detroit Lions mutually agreed to part ways with their franchise quarterback, they found a home for him in a win-win trade for everyone.Let’s dive into the winners and losers from this blockbuster trade.” uploaddate=”2021-02-01″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/711291_t_1612211490.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/711291.mp4″]
The Los Angeles Rams were dealt a severe blow leading up to the start of training camp with news that star young running back Cam Akers suffered a torn Achilles.
Needless to say, 2020 second-round pick will miss the entire season. A product of Florida State, Akers led Los Angeles in rushing yards a season ago with 625. He also outperformed Darrell Henderson in the playoffs, going for 272 total yards in two games.
The Rams now find themselves behind the proverbial eight-ball with the 2021 regular season mere weeks away. Henderson will get the first opportunity to prove he’s a three-down back. However, there’s other options Los Angeles must consider. Here we look at a few of them.
Los Angeles Rams sign Adrian Peterson
At the age of 36, Peterson still wants a chance to return to the NFL and compete for a Super Bowl. The unsigned free agent made that clear recently.
“Yeah, I’ve been chasing it (Super Bowl) for a long time,” Peterson said earlier in July. “It would be nice to finally get one. The training is going well, and I’m going to control the things that I can control right now, and, when that time comes, somebody will give me a call.”
This past season saw Peterson put up 705 total yards and seven touchdowns at a clip of 4.2 yards per touch for the Detroit Lions. This came after two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Washington Football Team. While no longer a three-down back, he’d provide experience in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Rams ride Darrell Henderson
There’s another scenario in play that suggests the Rams will simply rely on Henderson to morph into a lead ball carrier. Selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the Memphis product put up 783 total yards at a clip of 5.1 yards per touch as a sophomore last season. In fact, he started 11 games for the Rams.
This is a bit of a tricky proposition in that Los Angeles really has no one of substance behind the 23-year-old Henderson. He’s also dealing with an unspecific health issue and is uncertain for the start of the season.
Los Angeles Rams trade for Sony Michel
The trade block might be the best route for Los Angeles to go this late in the summer. While there’s not a ton of options available to general manager Les Snead and Co., Michel could make sense.
The former first-round pick from Georgia has fallen out of favor with the New England Patriots and could potentially be had on the cheap. He’s put up 2,550 total yards and 15 touchdowns in three seasons. Perhaps if New England bit for a mid-to-late round pick, this could work.
Los Angeles Rams trade for Mark Ingram
Another trade option for the Rams, Ingram signed with the Houston Texans this past spring. Unfortunately, he could very well be the odd-man out with the likes of David Johnson, Philip Lindsay and Rex Burkhead also on the roster. In fact, recent rumors suggest that Houston might simply release the three-time Pro Bowler. Los Angeles could get out in front of that by offering up a conditional late-round pick to bring in the veteran back.