Los Angeles Rams Rumors: The biggest hold up to a Todd Gurley trade

The Los Angeles Rams appear to be shopping Todd Gurley at some capacity and there is one thing that could restrict a potential move.

The Los Angeles Rams are restricted in the moves the team can make not only now but in the future because of the several large contracts given to the likes of Jared Goff, Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks.

It makes sense for the team to try and get at least one contract off the books to help address other holes and the only two that make sense from a talent standpoint are Gurley and Cooks. However, Cooks’ dead cap is so large that no matter what the trade was, the Rams would lose salary cap space in 2020.

That leaves Gurley as the easiest asset to trade and the Los Angeles Rams seemingly know that. According to Michael Silver of NFL Network, Gurley’s name has come in trade discussions and the Rams may be willing to move on from the former All-Pro running back.

It is pretty clear to see why. While Gurley has been great for the Rams, there are some concerns about his knees and the Rams have a lot of money committed to him as a running back. However, he is still valuable enough to find a desperate team to trade for him.

The dream situation that we proposed was to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as the Bucs would be desperate to add an elite back with their loads of cap space if they signed Tom Brady. The team reportedly have signed Brady, so the chips could fall to add Gurley.

However, there is one thing that could prevent that potential trade from happening and any other trade for Gurley, by any team. Is it his knees? No. Is it the new CBA? Not at all. Is it something outside of football? Not in the slightest.

The one thing that could put a halt to any Gurley trades, for the time being, is his draft classmate, Melvin Gordon.

Melvin Gordon is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and with the Los Angeles Chargers signing Austin Ekeler to a four-year, $24.5 million extension, chances are that he is going to leave the Bolts.

Gordon is the biggest running back on the free-agent market and any team that needs a running back, such as the Bucs, should make him their first option. If a team is going to be desperate enough to trade for Gurley then signing Gordon would be no problem.

Gordon does not have as high of a ceiling as Gurley but he has fewer miles on his legs and could come at a cheaper price. Gordon is likely going to get a contract in the four-year, $36-40 million range, after seeing what Ekeler got.

That is much more appealing to a team than drafting any sort of capital to take on Gurley and any potential issues. Could a Gurley trade happen after Gordon signs? Absolutely. But until that happens, it makes absolutely no sense for any team to trade for Gurley.

Gordon is the much better option for a team looking to add a difference-maker at running back, so for now, the Los Angeles Rams have to wait.