When the NFL and the NFLPA agreed to move the trade deadline back a few weeks, there were hopes that the later deadline would lead to perhaps some big deals, similar to what we see from other professional leagues.
Today might have been the kind of moment the parties had in mind.
According to Adam Schefter, the Denver Broncos are trading pass rusher Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams, in exchange for a pair of draft picks on the second day of the 2022 NFL draft:
Blockbuster: Broncos are finalizing a trade to send eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two second-day 2022 draft picks, league sources tell ESPN.
Miller is now saying his goodbyes to his friends in the Broncos’ training facility. pic.twitter.com/wJjlDOQkPU
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2021
Shefter later provided some of the terms:
Comp update: Rams are sending the Broncos a second- and third-round pick in the 2022 draft in exchange for eight-time Pro Bowl LB Von Miller, per sources
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2021
As part of the trade, the Broncos are paying $9 million of Von Miller’s remaining $9.7 million salary, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2021
The fact that Denver is paying a large portion of Miller’s remaining salary is likely due to the fact that the pass rusher was set to hit free agency in the spring, and the Broncos were not expecting to retain him. As such, they will add a pair of draft picks and get something in return. Plus, that helps the Rams fit Miller in under their current available cap space.
But what does Miller add to the Rams? Well, now he slides into a defense that has Aaron Donald in the interior, Leonard Floyd on the other side and players like Jalen Ramsey prowling in the secondary. We’ll look at what Miller has left in the tank, and how he fits into the Rams defense.