Why did the Rams trade Von Miller? LA’s deal with the Broncos to help Aaron Donald could pay off big time

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Von’s heat in LA.

The Rams made the biggest step of the 2021 NFL trade deadline, bringing in veteran pass rusher Von Miller to add to a top-tier defensive line.

While the price is pretty high for a player who will be a free agent after the year – the Rams send second and third round picks to the Broncos – the cost is probably worth it.

Miller is still an above-average pass rusher, even if he’s not the elite guy he was a few years ago. The hope for the Rams is that, playing him alongside Aaron Donald (and potentially bookend with other Rams rushers), Miller will be able to turn the clock back and make the rest of the season.

It’s pretty simple:

Why did the Rams trade Von Miller?

Not so much about Von Miller is about who’s playing next to him.

In 2021, Aaron Donald will line up more at the end of the defense than in previous years, where he plays more inside as a defensive tackle. This year, he has more snaps on the left end than his defensive tackle.

With Leonard Floyd coming off the left side, the Rams ’defense trade for Miller makes a big difference: Although Miller has been predominantly on the line as a left-outside linebacker in his career, he has moved to the right on pass- rushing situation (or vice versa with Floyd) gives the Rams a potentially deadly trio of pass rushers in any particular situation.

If that’s the way it is, then someone, most likely Miller or Floyd, will face a one-on-one situation versus having to double teamed. Good luck with that plan.

In any case, whether or not specifically how they deploy Miller, it helps that Miller will play alongside Donald, and it helps that the duo has a combined 66 pressure (sacks, hits, rush, each PFF) in 2021.

Miller has a 78.2 pass rush grade this year per PFF, a number that is still respectable. It’s even less than the best seasons of Miller’s career, but he can still get it.

Although the price is steep for a player on an expiring contract (a second- and third-round pick), there is another benefit to the trade: The Broncos earned $ 9 million of the remaining $ 9.7 million. Miller’s salary this year, which left the Rams with a relatively cheap, but still top-tier, pass to the rusher to pair on the line next to Donald.

As it turns out, head coach Sean McVay is all for the move.

Sean McVay said the move for Von Miller was brought to him a few days ago by the staff as a possible reality as the Broncos worked with the Rams on potential terms.

McVay’s reaction?

“You must be messing with me.”

Player he has long wanted.

– Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) November 1, 2021

“You’ve gotta be s-in ‘me,” McVay said when he read about the idea to get Miller.

That’s probably the same reaction that the conflicting quarterback will have for the rest of the year.

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