Los Angeles Rams: Sony Michel is a great buy-low trade pickup
The Los Angeles Rams made a trade for former New England Patriots’ first-round pick Sony Michel, who could be a great buy-low option.
The Los Angeles Rams have finally gone out and picked up some help at the running back position. Although they held firm initially about not getting any veterans in the backfield after the Cam Akers injury, a recent thumb injury for Darrell Henderson changed the Rams’ plans a bit.
The New England Patriots just so happened to have a surplus at the running back position and a rookie in Rhamondre Stevenson who has done an exceptional job in the 2021 preseason.
The Patriots sent former first-round pick Sony Michel to the Rams for some late draft capital, according to Adam Schefter.
Patriots are trading RB Sony Michel to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two late-round conditional draft picks, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 25, 2021
New England gets back two picks, the Rams get needed talent and depth at running back.
Compensation update: It’s a 5th rounder and 6th rounder this year that converts to a 4th rounder when/if the #Rams get a 4th round comp pick. Complicated, but essentially Sony Michel for a 4th round pick. Solid value. https://t.co/eWVzq9bcaT
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 25, 2021
This is a pretty great trade for the New England Patriots, who are getting back a fourth-round pick for a player that was not necessarily in their plans for the 2021 season.
Michel was the 31st overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Georgia, and he’s had some mixed levels of success in the NFL up to this point. He obviously hasn’t been good enough for the New England Patriots to keep him as the featured option in their backfield, but he’s 2,550 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns in three seasons.
Michel also was stellar for the Patriots en route to their Super Bowl win in the 2018 season when he had six touchdowns in the playoffs and 336 rushing yards in three games, including a 94-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.
The 2019 season is, so far, the only one in which Michel has been able to rack up over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and he also had a career-high seven touchdowns that season.
The 2020 season was tough on everyone in New England, but Michel is getting a fresh start in a really solid spot.
The Los Angeles Rams are expected to be one of the best teams in the NFC this year and with the addition of Matthew Stafford, they have spared no expense in making certain this roster is loaded, especially on offense.
With Michel in the fold and Henderson’s injury apparently minor, the Rams now have a 1-2 punch in the backfield again that could work really well together in Sean McVay’s offense.