The Los Angeles Rams have a special teams problem in the 2026 season, with the biggest issue being their kicker woes. Harrison Mevis was a letdown and was cut. Blake Grupe made one field goal, then suffered a torn ACL on a kickoff tackle attempt.
Now, after signing Brandon McManus, the Rams are hoping the third time’s the charm when it comes to finding a starting kicker. They’re getting desperate. Which is why a recent trade idea is so intriguing.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell proposed a very intriguing trade idea for the Rams, one in which they spend real draft capital on a mid-season acquisition of a kicker having a good season. This trade idea? A mid-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for Spencer Shrader.
Rams trade idea lands Colts K to fix major special teams issue
“Rams get: K Spencer Shrader. Colts get: 2027 fifth-round pick,” Barnwell proposed. “In a crowded NFC West race, the Rams might look to throw draft capital at their kicking woes.”
With the Rams currently 2-4, and getting into desperation mode with the 6-0 San Francisco 49ers running away with the NFC West, and the NFC Wild Card being a very contested race, this Rams team might need all the help they can get.
It might be natural to look at wide receivers following the Davante Adams injury as a trade target for the Rams. But instead, this kicker trade target actually makes a ton of sense, while also being incredibly intriguing.
Trading for a kicker mid-season doesn’t happen often, especially since there are plenty of decent options waiting for an NFL job as free agents right now.
But, in the Rams’ case, they’re all-in for the 2026 NFL season; why not splurge on an elite kicker like Shrader this season?
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The 27-year-old Colts kicker has made all 18 of his field goals through six weeks this season, including six from 50-plus yards out with a long of 58.
He’s one of the best kickers in the NFL right now, and if the Rams are looking for any sort of edge they can get this season as they try to make a comeback from their poor record, a kicker trade might be the kind of angle they should consider taking.
It’s obviously a lot to give up for a kicker, but considering the Colts are sellers, and the Rams are all-in, plus desperate for a resolution to the kicker problems this season, a fifth-round pick for Shrader would make for quite the intriguing move.
Will this trade idea actually happen? Probably not. The Colts might prefer to keep Shrader around, as elite kickers are hard to find, as the Rams know well.
But if this trade were to actually come to fruition? While the Rams might face some backlash for spending so much on a kicker, this is the kind of unconventional move that could be the difference between making the playoffs and not.
