The St. Louis Rams will go into the 2014 season with a strong group of running backs, and they will figure to be a run-heavy team in a make-or-break year for Sam Bradford. Zac Stacy established himself as a clear feature back in this league after last season’s performance, and the Rams also spent a pick on Auburn Tigers back Tre Mason, who is one of the best rookie backs. Daryl Richardson was above-average as a rookie in 2012, and No. 4 back Benny Cunningham flashed a bit last season.
More from Los Angeles Rams
- One surprise NFL team that should get in the Jonathan Taylor sweepstakes
- Rams: Will 2023 be a bounce back season for Cooper Kupp?
- 2023 NFL Season: 3 major in-season trades that could go down
- Could the Los Angeles Rams trade their 3 core players in 2023?
- Los Angeles Rams finally add a veteran free agent in 2023
That’s left Isaiah Pead as the odd-man out for the Rams organization, and Pead was in the same draft class as Richardson. He, however, has done nothing in the NFL after a strong college career with the Cincinnati Bearcats, and he definitely hasn’t made good on the potential the Rams saw in him. He was once expected to be a quality change-of-pace back with the ability to make an impact in the passing game, but he has just 31 combined touches in the first two seasons of his career.
Now, it looks like Pead was on the trade block during the draft, as the Bleacher Report’s Dan Pompei reports that the former second-round pick “was the subject of some trade talks during the draft”.
Nobody is surprised that Pead is still a member of the Rams organization following the draft, though, because it’s hard to believe that anyone would want to trade for someone who has been this unproductive. He has talent and can’t be written off yet, but he could be heading into a make-or-break year in his third season. Pead’s best chance at making an impact in this league is with another team, because the Rams are set and crowded at RB now after adding Mason to their previous grouping led by Stacy and Richardson. The addition of Mason looks like the writing is on the wall for Pead, and it will be interesting to see if the Rams cut him and allow him to sign elsewhere, since I can’t see anybody parting ways with even a late-round pick for him.