The Los Angeles Rams confirmed it traded wide receiver Van Jefferson to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for picks in the sixth and seventh rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jefferson was out the entire 2022 season due to an injury and saw very little action in the first five weeks of 2023. In the Week 5 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he only took two snaps and had no reception.
So far this season, the University of Florida graduate has barely accumulated four catches and 108 yards.
In the conference after the game against Philadelphia, Rams head coach Sean McVay downplayed Jefferson’s lack of activity. However, change was already at the door.
Kupp and Nacua’s performances sentence Jefferson
After the former Gators’ forced absence in 2022, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua more than filled his spot.
Kupp returned to the lineup after spending the first four weeks recovering from a hamstring injury. However, in the game against the Eagles, he caught eight passes for 118 yards.
Puka, for his part, contributed 71 yards on seven caught passes, one of them in the end zone. So far this season, Puka has 46 catches, 572 yards, and two touchdowns.
Jefferson even lost the third receiver position to the good performance of Tutu Atwell, who has 24 catches, 279 yards, and two touchdowns in five games.
Jefferson’s place in Atlanta
Drake London and Mack Hollins lead the Falcons’ receiving corps. Tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith are good options for second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder.
It is now up to head coach Arthur Smith to determine how he will mix newcomer Jefferson into his offense.
