Los Angeles Rams officials have indicated their desire to create one of the league’s premier wide receiver groups this coming season, led by Puka Nacua as their main wideout. Recently there has been speculation regarding A.J. Brown from Philadelphia Eagles; as they may look for ways to trade him away and add someone from that position who’s also been named three-time All Pro player in return.
According to league sources, when discussing potential trade scenarios for Brown, the Rams have considered moving Davante Adams.
Davante Adams, a second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, has been a professional for twelve seasons. Throughout his career, he has played for the Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets, and currently the Los Angeles Rams. He signed a two-year contract with the Rams worth $44 million.
Despite his past success, Adams’ most productive years seem to be behind him, as he has not surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in any of the last three seasons. Additionally, 2026 will mark the final year of his contract with the Rams. Despite recent underwhelming performances, Adams carries a cap hit of $28 million, with $22 million due immediately after the team already paid his $6 million roster bonus. Although exchanging him for a player like Brown could be a fair trade, the recent payment of his roster bonus raises questions about whether the Rams will move on from Adams.
Adding to the Rams’ financial considerations is the upcoming contract extension for breakout star Puka Nacua.
If the Rams acquire Brown, his cap hit would be around $23.3 million. Maintaining three top receivers with such substantial salaries would pose a significant financial challenge, making a trade involving Adams a logical next step.
Puka Nacua, only 24 years old and already a two-time Pro Bowler, is widely seen as the future centerpiece of the Rams’ offense. While Adams remains talented, at 33 years old, he has not met recent expectations. In contrast, 28-year-old A.J. Brown could serve as an ideal replacement for the next few seasons.
The Rams’ Interest in A.J. Brown’s Situation in Philadelphia
A.J. Brown joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022 after spending time with the Tennessee Titans. Since then, he has emerged as a dominant force, earning three Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl title.
Brown became discontented last season over an underperforming offense and underperforming passing game that caused them to exit in the Wild Card Round, leading them to coach Nick Sirianni’s sideline for an argument on gameday and spurring speculation regarding potential trade opportunities involving him.
Trading Brown can create dead money complications for the Eagles. A trade prior to June 1 would incur approximately $43 million of dead money expenses while post-June 1 deals would reduce it significantly to roughly $16 million; given Rams’ ongoing surveillance on Brown, an Eagles trade could save $7 million by waiting until after June 1.