The Sean McVay and Les Snead era in Los Angeles will forever be defined by an organizational willingness to weaponize draft capital for proven, blue-chip superstars. They’ve already done so twice this offseason with the Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie trades, but those are only two of the most recent examples of the duo’s boldness.
We ranked the top-10 blockbuster trades of the McVay-Snead coalition since 2017 based on impact and longevity. And, as you’ll see, all of the trades are concentrated in three seasons: 2026, 2021 and 2018.
Nearly every major acquisition on this list was engineered either to fuel the explosive 2018 offense that reached Super Bowl LIII or to provide the final, championship-sealing puzzle pieces for the Super Bowl LVI triumph. Now, by pulling off consecutive blockbuster moves for McDuffie and Garrett, the Rams have signaled an identical, unapologetic mentality—proving they are once again ready to strip the roster of future assets to maximize a championship window while their elite veteran core remains intact.
Here are our rankings for the most impactful trades in McVay and Snead’s career together.
1. Matthew Stafford (2021)
The definitive blockbuster that will define the Sean McVay era, this trade shattered traditional roster-building norms and delivered immediate championship validation. By shipping Jared Goff, a 2021 third-round pick, and first-round picks in 2022 and 2023 to the Detroit Lions, the Rams secured the best quarterback in their franchise’s history since Kurt Warner. Stafford’s impact was instantaneous: he threw for nearly 4,900 yards and 41 touchdowns in his debut season, culminating in a legendary game-winning drive in Super Bowl LVI. He’s also helped the Rams reach the postseason in four of his five seasons in L.A.
2. Myles Garrett (2026)
This already has to rank as the second-biggest move of the list, and Garrett hasn’t even played a snap in his new jersey. L.A. sent former first-round edge rusher Jared Verse and a haul of future premium picks to the Cleveland Browns for the single-season sack record-holder and the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Garrett is the best defensive player on this team since Aaron Donald, and he gives defensive coordinator Chris Shula a terrifying, game-wrecking anchor.
3. Jalen Ramsey (2019)
This 2019 mid-season mega-deal was the ultimate proof of concept for the front office, proving that the Rams viewed established All-Pro superstars as far more valuable than unknown draft commodities. L.A. sent a 2020 first-round pick, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the cornerback. Ramsey completely transformed the secondary with 10 interceptions, 47 passes defensed and 242 combined tackles in 57 games for the Rams and was an essential defender during the 2021 Super Bowl run.
4. Von Miller (2021)
Miller was another mid-season pickup for the Rams, this time during their 2021 Super Bowl run. L.A. sent a 2022 second-round pick and a 2022 third-round pick to the Denver Broncos in exchange for the 32-year-old edge rusher. Miller had five sacks, 12 tackles for a loss and 31 combined tackles in just eight games for the Rams before leaving in free agency. While he didn’t play much in L.A., Miller’s impact was felt with two sacks in the Rams’ Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
5. Brandin Cooks (2018)
The Rams supercharged their offense in McVay’s second season by adding Cooks for a first-round pick in 2018. The speedster gave the Rams’ high-octane offense another spark alongside Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, and Cooks delivered a 1,200-yard campaign. Cooks helped power the Rams all the way to an appearance in Super Bowl LIII, where they ultimately lost to Cook’s former team, the New England Patriots. He played just one more season in L.A. before being traded to the Houston Texans in 2020.
6. Trent McDuffie (2026)
It’s hard to quantify exactly how McDuffie will change the defense, but his presence gives the Rams’ their best cornerback since Ramsey. McDuffie joined L.A. from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for No. 29 overall pick, a fifth-rounder and sixth-rounder, as well as a third-rounder in 2027. McDuffie isn’t a flashy player with just two career interceptions, but his lock-down presence should do wonders for the defense in 2026 and beyond.
7. Marcus Peters (2018)
Speaking of trades for Chiefs cornerbacks, the Rams added another one during their onslaught of 2018 moves. L.A. sent a 2018 fourth-round pick and second-round pick to Kansas City for the veteran cornerback plus a 2018 and a sixth-round pick. While his gambling style occasionally led to big plays, Peters brought an elite ball-hawking instinct and takeaway threat to Wade Phillips’ defense that fueled the 2018 Super Bowl run. Peters was also a bit of a rental, as he played just 22 games with the Rams before L.A. sent him to the Baltimore Ravens midway through the 2019 season.
8. Dante Fowler (2018)
Desperately needing a burst of speed off the edge to complement Aaron Donald’s historic interior pressure, the Rams shipped third- and fifth-round picks to Jacksonville at the 2018 deadline for Fowler. The investment paid dividends almost immediately; Fowler provided a persistent pass-rushing spark, highlighted by his game-altering hit on Drew Brees in the NFC Championship game that forced a crucial overtime interception. He parlayed that momentum into an 11.5-sack season in 2019, proving to be a highly effective short-term fix.
9. Sony Michel (2021)
While far from the flashiest trade on this list, this late-summer deal with the Patriots saved the 2021 championship season from disaster after Cam Akers suffered a torn Achilles. The Rams sent a fifth and sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft to the Patriots for Michel. The former first-rounder stepped into the backfield and provided the tough, reliable, between-the-tackles running that McVay’s offense desperately needed to stay balanced. Leading the team with 845 rushing yards, Michel kept the ground game viable during the cold winter stretch, taking immense pressure off Matthew Stafford in the buildup to the playoffs. However, he didn’t factor much in the playoffs. Michel left the Rams after the season but returned briefly ahead of the 2023 season before retiring from the NFL.
10. Aqib Talib (2018)
Acquired for a mere fifth-round pick, Talib was brought in alongside Peters to completely remake the 2018 secondary. His deep understanding of the game and physical presence on the boundary gave Wade Phillips a reliable coverage piece and an on-field coach for a rapidly evolving roster. Talib’s veteran poise and championship pedigree helped instill the swagger that defined the defensive unit during their push to Super Bowl LIII. However, he played just 13 total games for the Rams in the final two years of his NFL career with one interception and just 37 combined tackles.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Power ranking the top trades in the Les Snead-Sean McVay Rams era
Reporting by Oliver G., Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
