With the Broncos dangling receiver Brandon Lloyd and the trade deadline coming in less than 72 hours, there’s talk in league circles that the Rams could make a play for the veteran wideout.
Making such a deal make sense is the fact that the Rams don’t have much at the receiver position. Making such a deal seem like a stretch is the reality that trading for Lloyd won’t do much to keep the 0-4 Rams from sliding to 0-7 over the next 15 days, via games against the Packers, Cowboys, and Saints.
But here’s where Lloyd could make a difference. Once the schedule softens, Lloyd could help the offense score points, which could help the Rams win enough games to avoid a postseason housecleaning.
That could make Lloyd well worth whatever mid-round pick it takes to get him, especially if a full-blown disaster could mean that the guys trading the picks in 2011 won’t be the guys using the picks come 2012.
The challenge will be to properly gauge Lloyd’s value. He was largely ordinary from 2003 through 2009. Then, in 2010, Lloyd racked up 1,448 receiving yards. (In the prior five seasons combined, Lloyd generated only 155 more than that.)
The fact that the light finally went on for Lloyd in Josh McDaniels’ offense serves only to make a move to the team that now employs McDaniels make even more sense.
Stay tuned. If a deal doesn’t happen by 4:00 p.m. ET Tuesday, it won’t happen at all, and Lloyd will become a free agent after the season.