Former Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey (22) will see Bobby Wagner (45) and the Rams again, this time as a member of the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers. (Ashley Landis / Associated Press)More
The Carolina Panthers on Thursday traded running back Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers, who beat out the Rams and other teams for the versatile star.
Here’s why the 49ers landed McCaffrey and what that means for Rams:
The 49ers had more draft capital than the Rams: The price for McCaffrey did not include a first-round draft pick, so that apparently did not work against the Rams, who have never been shy about trading them — see deals for Jared Goff (2016), Brandin Cooks (2018), Jalen Ramsey (2019) and Matthew Stafford (2021).Les Snead will no doubt make a deal or two before the Nov. 1 trade deadline: It’s not in the Rams’ nature to stand pat.
In the last few seasons, in the weeks and days before the trade deadline, Snead dealt for edge rusher Dante Fowler (2018), Ramsey (2019) and edge rusher Von Miller (2021). He also signed receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in 2021.
The Rams could use offensive linemen, an edge rusher, a running back and perhaps a safety.
McCaffrey will make it even tougher on the Rams in the NFC West: The Rams have not defeated the 49ers in a regular-season game since 2018, a streak of seven consecutive losses.