Without wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring), the Los Angeles Rams need an immediate answer opposite Puka Nacua, and Locked On Rams host Gavin Carlson believes Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen offers their best trade path. Carlson’s pitch centers on the value of a veteran route runner who could give quarterback Matthew Stafford a dependable option when opponents devote extra attention to Nacua.
Carlson argued Allen fits the role more cleanly than a younger, higher-upside swing because he could operate from the slot or outside while quickly earning Stafford’s trust on third downs and in the red zone. Allen has 26 receptions for 227 yards and one touchdown through six games this season, and Carlson contended that his experience would make him a more reliable short-term replacement for Adams than a developmental addition.
The cost matters for a Rams team Carlson described as short on draft flexibility, with no first- or third-round pick next year. He suggested a fifth- or sixth-round selection could be enough for Allen, while warning that a deal for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. would demand a much bigger bet. Carlson said Thomas would have to recapture his 2024 rookie form for Los Angeles to justify surrendering meaningful capital.
Carlson’s preferred plan goes beyond one trade: acquire Allen, then sign free-agent wide receiver Darius Slayton to add an outside vertical threat. He also listed fellow Colts wide receiver Josh Downs as an intriguing younger trade target because of his ability to separate against man coverage, but Allen remained his top choice because the Rams need a player who can immediately handle the timing and option-route demands of Stafford’s offense.
Los Angeles could instead lean on wide receivers Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington, but Carlson questioned whether the coaching staff has shown enough trust in that group to make an internal solution likely. His standard for head coach Sean McVay is clear: Adams’ absence may require schematic adjustments, but it cannot become an excuse for a major offensive downturn.
The Rams’ next move will show whether McVay believes Stafford can carry the existing receiver group through Adams’ absence or whether the club sees Allen — or another external option — as necessary to keep its season from slipping further.
Rams News and Notes
– Carlson does not expect a splash move to replace injured Rams defensive linemen Kobie Turner and Poona Ford. He identified practice-squad defensive lineman Bill Norton as the most natural option to supply size on early downs, with Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton and Larrell Murchison also available for larger workloads.
– Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson’s recovery timetable has extended, according to Carlson. A longer absence would further complicate the personnel decisions around Adams’ injury, particularly if McVay wants to continue using heavier formations.
More on the Los Angeles Rams
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- Tyreek Hill Nears a Return From Knee Injury, Per Drew Rosenhaus, as Rams Lose Davante Adams
- Matthew Stafford’s Wife Reacts to Erin Andrews’ Physical Appearance
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