Former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson (12) can’t make the catch during the Rams‘ win … [+] over the Cinncinati Bengals in Super Bowl 56. Jefferson was shipped to the Atlanta Falcons this week for a late-round pick. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.The Los Angeles Rams sent wide receiver Van Jefferson on a long pattern, one that stretched to Georgia.
The Rams peddled Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday, in the wake of All-Pro Cooper Kupp (hamstring) returning to action in Sunday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The teams will also swap late-round picks in 2025, with the Rams’ seventh-rounder accompanying Jefferson and L.A. snagging Atlanta’s sixth-rounder.
L.A. was once high on Jefferson’s potential, after selecting him 57th overall in 2020. Despite entering camp as the team’s No. 2 receiver, he was inconsistent with his production and he tumbled down the depth chart with the emergence of record-setting rookie Puka Nacu and Tutu Atwell’s improvement.
Jefferson’s departure makes him the second player from the Rams’ 2020 draft class to be sent packing in less than a month. L.A. rid themselves of running back Cam Akers recently as he was moved to the Minnesota Vikings.
With Jefferson in his final season of his rookie contract, it was clear the Rams weren’t interested in awarding him another deal. So they cut bait while they could still receive something — but not much — in return.
The Rams’ will still carry $792, 187 in dead-cap space on Jefferson, a savings of roughly $300,000, according to spotrac.com.
Overall, L.A. is closing in on nearly $75 million, or 33 percent of its cap, being consumed by players no longer with the team.
Jefferson caps his Rams’ stint with 101 receptions for 10 touchdowns and 1,499 yards.