The 2026 NFL trade deadline came and went, and the Los Angeles Rams didn’t make a move for a receiver. Instead, they only brought back Xavier Smith despite injuries to Jordan Whittington and Puka Nacua after losing Davante Adams earlier this year.
Without that trio, the Rams’ top receivers include Konata Mumpfield, Tutu Atwell, 2026 sixth-round pick CJ Daniels and Smith.
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Even though trades are off the table, the Rams can still find solid, veteran talent to add to their roster. Here are seven options Sean McVay and Les Snead could pursue while they wait for their top pass-catchers to return.
Perhaps the biggest name on the open market right now, Hill can break open any offense if his body holds up. The 32-year-old wideout is still recovering from a 2025 ACL injury and isn’t medically cleared to play yet, according to his agent. Hill is also facing some off-field problems that could affect his availability if and when he signs with a club.
If healthy, though, Hill could be a home-run hitter for the Rams’ offense. While his skillset isn’t a perfect replacement for Davante Adams or Puka Nacua, Hill is a dynamic veteran threat that could garner some attention when he’s ready to play again.
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Slayton hasn’t seen the field this year after being released by the New York Giants this offseason and then the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 16. The 29-year-old is big, fast and productive, with 296 receptions for 4,435 yards and 22 touchdowns in 106 games over a seven-year career. Slayton’s production has waned recently, though, as he hasn’t topped 600 yards and four touchdowns in a year since 2023. However, he’d be a cheap and potentially viable option for the depleted and inexperienced Rams’ receiver room.
This would be the most chaotic signing of all time for the Rams, for several reasons. Not only would Aiyuk be leaving one of the Rams’ biggest division rivals, but he was only just reinstated to play in the NFL after spending the entire year on the San Francisco 49ers’ reserve/left squad list for publicly lambasting his old club during the offseason. Aiyuk also hasn’t played since he tore his ACL midway through the 2024 season, and there’s no certainty he’s healthy. His off-field antics are huge red flags, too.
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Aiyuk had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons before his ACL injury, and almost two years off might be great for his physical health. It would be a fun experiment, so long as the 49ers actually release him in the next few weeks.
Smith-Schuster isn’t flashy, but he is experienced and could fit a nice role the Rams need in the absence of Adams and Nacua. He played 12 games for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025 but tallied just 33 receptions for 345 yards and one score. For his career, Smith-Schuster has caught 481 balls for 5,624 yards and 33 touchdowns in nine seasons.
If the Rams want experience, Smith-Schuster is a solid name to look at for the time being.
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Beckham Jr. is on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad at the moment, so he’d need to be signed outright for a potential reunion with the Rams. It’s unclear if the 34-year-old has anything left in the tank, though. He signed with the New York Giants in the offseason, but barely saw the field, then signed with the Vikings before being cut and then re-signing with the practice squad. Beckham Jr. didn’t even play in 2025 and has just 44 receptions for 620 yards and three touchdowns since he won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021.
Brown is another wily veteran looking for a new club. He played just four games with the Washington Commanders in 2025 due to rib and groin injuries, and didn’t make the Las Vegas Raiders’ final roster in 2026. Brown has 78 games of experience over seven seasons and is a solid blocker, meaning he could find a role in Sean McVay’s offense if this is the direction the team wants to go.
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Another familiar face, Reynolds last played for the Rams in 2020 before Mathew Stafford arrived. The 31-year-old has since played for the Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars and, most recently in 2025, the New York Jets. He’s a solid receiver with 121 games under his belt and 244 receptions for 3,228 yards and 20 touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 7 WRs the Rams could target following the trade deadline
