The Los Angeles Rams are back in the NFC Championship Game, and they have a roster and coaching staff to win it all. A huge part of that equation? Trading for pass rusher Von Miller, who had a sack, a quarterback hit, and 4 tackles — including 1 for loss — in the Rams’ Divisional Round upset of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Von Miller trade could power Rams to Super Bowl
The Rams went all-in on winning it all in 2021. They gave up two first-round picks for Matthew Stafford before the season. Additionally, they took a chance on a distressed asset in former Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
And they sent two second-day picks to Denver for Miller, who is 22nd on the NFL’s all-time sack list (115.5). But all three of those moves have been rousing successes. It’s fair to wonder if the Rams would be one win away from the Super Bowl without any of them.
The Miller trade was the most shocking of all the moves. He is Denver Broncos royalty, and George Paton wasn’t going to give him up without getting excellent value. However, the Rams, who had already surrendered much of their future to acquire Stafford from the Lions, didn’t have much left to offer. But the sides agreed on a deal, sending Los Angeles’ second- and third-round picks to Denver for a three-month rental. Miller’s contract is up after this year.
Miller’s stats with the Los Angeles Rams
After a slow start — Miller was dealing with an ankle injury when the trade went down — Miller has been an absolute force for the Rams. In eight regular-season games with Los Angeles, he recorded 5 sacks, 14 pressures, 12 tackles for loss, 9 quarterback hits, and forced a fumble.
Adding Miller to the Rams’ defensive front has been a nightmare for offensive coordinators. Indeed, he and Aaron Donald in the same pass rush is just unfair. And there’s an argument to be made that Miller has been the most disruptive Rams defender in the playoffs. He has 2 sacks, 3 TFLs, 2 QB hits, and a fumble recovery. On the other hand, the rest of the Rams’ defense has 3, 5, 9, and 0, respectively.
“It’s like a movie, right? It’s like a movie, man,” Miller said after the Rams’ win over the Buccaneers. “It’s been a movie since I walked into George Paton’s office and he told me I was getting traded. It’s been a movie coming here being able to experience this culture and see the way they go about things.
“Being on the same team with Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, Matthew Stafford and to be in LA, it definitely does not suck. I’m just grateful. These are the things that I prayed for. These are the things that I got on my knees and begged God for and I appreciate everything that he’s blessed me with.”
Is Miller deal the greatest in-season trade ever?
The gold standard for NFL trades will always be the Herschel Walker deal. It was a coup for the Dallas Cowboys that went a long way in building their 1990s dynasty. But the player-for-many-picks swap didn’t make the Cowboys a better team in 1989. Rather, it did the opposite, contributing to their 1-15 record.
Only a handful of times in NFL history has a contending team swung for the fences in the way the Rams did and have that gamble pay off in the way it has.
Probably the best comp is cornerback Mike Haynes, who was the missing piece for the Los Angeles Raiders in 1983. He showed up in a big way in the Super Bowl XVIII with an interception before twice being named an All-Pro for the Silver and Black.
Booger MacFarland (Colts, 2006), Kyle Van Noy (Patriots, 2016), and Jay Ajayi (Eagles, 2017) all likewise helped their new clubs hoist the Lombardi Trophy after midseason team changes. The Marshawn Lynch trade helped transform the Seahawks’ identity. But their greatest success didn’t come until a few years after the deal occurred.
Plus, none of these players had the pedigree that Miller had upon his arrival. And none has played at the level Miller has so far in these playoffs.
If the Rams finish the job with two more wins, there would be no debate. Von Miller would be the most impactful trade-deadline pickup in NFL history.