Rams agree to trade receiver Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons

The season is only five games old and the Rams traded another player Tuesday from their 2020 draft class.

Receiver Van Jefferson, 27, was the latest to go in a deal with the Atlanta Falcons. The Rams also sent a seventh round pick in the 2025 draft to the Falcons and received a sixth round pick in the same draft.

Jefferson joins running back Cam Akers as former second round picks that were traded. The Rams sent Akers to the Minnesota Vikings after their second game.

Jefferson went into training camp as the presumptive No. 2 receiver behind star Cooper Kupp. When Kupp went on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, Jefferson’s role appeared on track to grow even more.

But rookie Puka Nacua emerged as the Rams’ No. 1 receiver, with Tutu Atwell also getting many targets.

Jefferson struggled early, dropping passes in the first two games. He did deliver with a long reception against the Cincinnati Bengals and a clutch fourth-down catch against the Indianapolis Colts in Weeks 3 and 4.

On Sunday, however, Jefferson was the odd man out in a 23-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Sofi Stadium. He played only two snaps, and was not targeted.

Coach Sean McVay said Monday that Jefferson‘s role was a result of the flow of the game and not reflective of how the team viewed him.

Jefferson leaves the Rams with 101 career receptions for 1,499 yards and 10 touchdowns. His best season came on the Super Bowl championship team in 2021-22, starting 17 games and finishing with 50 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns, all career highs.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams have agreed to terms on a trade to send receiver Van Jefferson and a seventh-round draft pick in 2025 to the Atlanta Falcons for a sixth-round pick in 2025, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams were still completing the deal.

Jefferson is a 2020 second-round pick who played a steady role on the Rams’ offense when healthy for his first three NFL seasons. He started every game in Los Angeles’ 2021-22 championship season, setting career highs with 50 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns before catching four passes in the Super Bowl.

But the Florida product has fallen out of the receiver rotation this year. He had been supplanted by record-setting rookie Puka Nacua and speedy third-year pro Tutu Atwell even before Super Bowl 56 MVP Cooper Kupp made a strong return from injury last Sunday against Philadelphia.

Jefferson’s fate was fairly clear when he played only two offensive snaps against the Eagles, with even Ben Skowronek getting more playing time. Jefferson has eight catches for 108 yards this season.

Jefferson could contribute quickly with the Falcons, who have questionable depth and little production at receiver behind USC product Drake London, who has 17 catches for 204 yards and two TDs.

Atlanta’s three most productive pass-catchers are running back Bijan Robinson and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Kyle Pitts. Mack Hollins is the Falcons’ second-leading wide receiver, with just nine catches for 143 yards.

Jefferson had 101 catches with the Rams for 1,499 yards over four seasons. Although he missed a chunk of last season because of an injury, he also had perhaps the most memorable play of his career when he caught a last-minute touchdown pass from Baker Mayfield in Los Angeles’ shocking comeback victory over Las Vegas last December.