Heading into 2026, the Los Angeles Rams will once again take a more “all-in” approach if they choose to do so. That’s a departure from the Rams’ goal in past years, which has been to reshape the roster while remaining competitive.
The Rams own two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft and will have a decision to make. Will they use one of the picks in a trade for a more established player and borrow from the 2027 draft capital if needed, or stick with the status quo and simply add two top-50 players?
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If the Rams were to make a big trade and move draft capital, they would need to find a player worthy of such a trade. Two names that are often mentioned are Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Max Crosby and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie.
The price tag for both players will be huge. For a player like Crosby, a trade package would have to start with two first-round picks due to the need for players. Crosby is one of the best edge rushers in the NFL and is only 28 years old. From the Rams’ perspective, adding Crosby will help take the pressure off Jared Firth entering his third year. Crosby has had 10 or more sacks in three of the past four years. Draft picks aside, moving on from Byron Young, who has reached his ceiling, might make sense in the short term.
Meanwhile, a player like McDuffie would likely cost less and also help fill an important positional need for the Rams. The Rams are looking for a top cornerback, and adding an All-Pro cornerback like McDuffie would certainly fill that need. Back in 2018, the Rams traded a fourth-round pick and a future second-round pick to the Chiefs for Marcus Peters. McDuffie’s is probably about the same price. The No. 29 pick and a mid-round pick might be enough to get the job done.
Crosby and McDuffie are the two top prospects, but the Rams will also likely keep a close eye on wide receivers Brian Thomas Jr. and Jaylen Waddle if either becomes available.
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As with any trade in the NFL, this is more complicated than just exchanging players and draft picks. Often there’s money involved, as was the case with both Crosby and McDuffie. Any team that trades Crosby will incur a $30 million fee in 2026. Given that Crosby has no guaranteed money after this season, the team that acquires him will also face greater pressure to re-sign, especially if a first-round pick is involved. For a player like Crosby, he’s probably making close to $40 million a year.
In McDuffie’s case, the Rams won’t make that much in 2026, just $13.6 million. However, McDuffie is in the final year of his rookie contract. If the Rams trade multiple draft picks to the Chiefs in exchange for McDuffie, the pressure to complete an extension will increase. That’s the only reason the Chiefs would even consider trading their All-Pro cornerback. Their payroll is currently $3 million over the cap and needs to make room.
According to Spotrac, McDuffie’s current contract has a market value of $111.5 million over four years, or $27.75 million per year. The Rams have plenty of money going forward, with $181 million available in 2027 and more than $300 million in cap space in 2028. However, that had more to do with not having too many players in those years. The Rams have a number of extensions, including Puka Nakua, Kobe Turner, Byron Young, Steve Avila, Kevin Dotson and Warren McClendon.
Nakua will likely demand money from top receivers, making him the highest-paid player at the position. His market cap is $154.1 million over 4 years, or $38.5 million per year. Current market capitalization of other players:
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Kevin Dotson: 3 years, $57.3 million ($19.1 million/year)
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Steve Avila: 4 years, $70.2 million ($17.6 million/year)
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Byron Young: 4 years, $112.2 million ($28.1 million/year)
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Kobe Turner: 4 years, $99.7 million ($24.9 million/year)
Using the average earnings of just those five players, that’s $128.8 million, which would leave just over $50 million for the rest of the 2027 roster. Add McDuffie’s earnings into the mix and it’s $27.8 million, or even less. The Rams could obviously structure the contract as front-load or back-load to balance the salary cap. However, it helps paint a picture of the Rams’ inability to pay everyone, which could mean moving on from Young if they trade McDuffie.
The Crosby deal was more than just multiple first-round picks and a potential player. That’s it, with a cap hit of $30 million this year and a new contract with a raise and more guarantees. McDuffie’s trade wasn’t just for multiple draft picks. It was the draft pick and contract extension that made McDuffie one of the highest-paid cornerbacks.
Is a player like Crosby worth it for the Rams? Considering how much resources the Rams have invested in the pass rush, the answer is probably no. However, given the Rams’ need at cornerback and the fact that McDuffie is still only 25 years old, this move would make sense even with a contract. The Rams could probably spend less money on free agents like Jamel Dean or Rick Woolen. However, Dean is entering his age-30 season and Woolen is unproven as the team’s top cornerback. McDuffie, 25, has been the Chiefs’ top cornerback for the past two years. Also worth noting is his connection to Rams defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake, who coached McDuffie in Washington.
That’s not to say whether the Rams should trade their star player. However, when it comes to contracts, it’s more complicated than just exchanging draft picks. In this case, it needs to have long-term implications because there is more currency and future draft capital risk involved. The Rams have danced this dance many times before, but heading into Matthew Stafford’s likely final season, they need to get it right.
