A newly added name to the NFL trade deadline rumor mill is the perfect target for the Los Angeles Rams
The Rams sit at 4-4 in a loaded NFC, and their window to add reinforcements along the defensive front closes next week.
The Los Angeles Rams have been hit by plenty of injuries this season. Their best avenue to add talent and offset some of those losses is the NFL trade deadline, and that door closes next week. Once it does, Los Angeles will have to ride out the rest of the regular season with the roster it has.
So allow me to throw a name out there. New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore makes a lot of sense as a potential addition for the Rams. Los Angeles lost defensive tackle Puna Ford for the rest of the season. Barmore could certainly help the Rams replace some of what they lost in the middle of their defense — and he’s reportedly available.
Why Christian Barmore makes sense for the Los Angeles Rams
Barmore is a disruptive presence up front, and he brings plenty of size to the position. We’ve seen the kind of impact a disruptive defensive interior group is capable of with Seattle’s deep playoff run last year. The Rams have Aaron Donald, Braden Fiske, and Kobie Turner (injured reserve) — but Barmore is built a little differently. At 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Barmore still has disruptive twitch in his game to complement to others on the Rams’ front.
The price may not be prohibitive, either. According to Albert Breer, Barmore is available for a mid-round draft choice. For a team in the thick of a playoff chase? That is a reasonable cost for a player with Barmore’s physical profile. It doesn’t cost Los Angeles a premium pick, and it gives the defense a real answer up front instead of a patchwork one.
The NFC field doesn’t help
Let’s be honest. This season has been a disappointment to this stage, as Los Angeles sits at 4-4. That record isn’t a disaster, but the NFC has become loaded. The margin for error is thin. A team that stands pat at the deadline is betting that its current roster, injuries and all, is good enough to separate from a crowded field. That is a tough bet to make for how things have played out this season for the Rams.
None of this means the Rams have to land Barmore specifically. But if they want to help replace what they lost in Ford, Barmore is a sensible name to start with. He fits the need. The reported asking price is manageable, and the timing lines up with a team that still has something to play for.
The deadline arrives next week. If Los Angeles wants to give itself the best chance to make noise in the NFC? Now is the time to make a move up front. Let’s see if the Rams are willing to pick up the phone.
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