Trai Turner would solve the Rams’ biggest problem before the draft.
The Carolina Panthers are ushering in a new era with head coach Matt Rhule taking over and it seems a fire sale could be on the horizon in Charlotte. Rumors have swirled about Cam Newton’s future as he could be traded this offseason, and now it’s being reported that another perennial Pro Bowler could be on the move.
According to Jenna Laine of ESPN, the team is shopping guard Trai Turner. He’s made the Pro Bowl in each of the last five seasons and is viewed as one of the better guards in the NFL, yet he’s only 26 years old and has two years left on his contract.
The Rams obviously have a glaring need at guard, which they’re expected to address in the draft, but what if they could get a jumpstart on that position by acquiring Turner in a trade with the Panthers? It would shore up one of their biggest needs and allow them to go into the draft with more of an open mind, not needing to address that position.
There’s no doubt the Rams would benefit from adding a player like Turner to their offensive line, bringing back shades of Rodger Saffold on the interior, but the question is at what price? Should they consider parting ways with their top pick at No. 52 overall? That’s a steep price to pay for a guard, even one as talented as Turner. Not because he isn’t a great player, but because the Rams could potentially find their own Pro Bowler at that spot and not need to pay him the way Turner’s getting compensated.
Turner has two years left on his deal with cap hits of $12.9 million in and $15.4 million in 2021. If the Rams were to acquire him, they’d take on $8.9 million in cap obligations next season with the Panthers paying the rest of it. Paying a five-time Pro Bowl guard $8.9 million for one season isn’t a bad deal, but the cost would jump to about $11.5 million in 2021.
For comparison, the projected contract for the 52nd overall pick is four years for $5.7 million with a cap hit of around $1 million in 2020. That’s a big difference from what Turner would cost the Rams next season.
Putting aside the financial hurdle of this deal, let’s look at what it might take to acquire Turner. A second-round pick would almost certainly get a trade done, but the Rams shouldn’t part with the 52nd pick, partly because of Turner’s recent injury history; he’s missed three games in each of the last three seasons.
The 84th overall pick would make the deal more enticing for the Rams because there’s greater risk of a player being a bust in the third round. It’s hard to find immediate starters outside the top two rounds, which would make trading away the 84th pick for Turner easier to swallow if the Rams were to go that route.
If Carolina is only seeking a fourth-round pick, the Rams should bite. They’re projected to get a fourth-round compensatory pick to go along with their own fourth-rounder, so trading one of them away for an immediate starter at guard would seem like a no-brainer, even with Turner’s contract coming with it.
With the way the Rams have been wheeling and dealing in recent years, they’ll most likely check in with the Panthers on Turner’s cost. If the price is right, they should strongly consider making a move to acquire him to help fix the O-line.
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