Usually the NFL trade deadline is not a big deal for most teams.  It is not like Major League Baseball where the sellers and the buyers actually make significant moves.  Today in St. Louis it was more like the baseball trading deadline then the football one.  The St. Louis Rams traded away their starting outside linebacker (Will Witherspoon) for what is essentially a backup wide receiver (Brandon Gibson) and a 5th round pick in 2010 from the Philadelphia Eagles.  Not that it is a shock to anyone but the 0-6 Rams were definitely sellers.


The move makes some sense for the Rams when you consider that they were clearly sellers and for the most part anyone not named Steven Jackson was available for the right price.  Witherspoon was in his third season with the Rams and has been a nice player, although he was miscast as a strongside linebacker during his first two seasons here.  Moving forward this weekend the Rams are looking at a starting linebacker corps of Paris Lenon, James Laurinaitis and Larry Grant.  Certainly not what was expected at the end of last season or even for that matter in September.  You would have to think that Colts tight end Dallas Clark is licking his chops to play against the Rams this Sunday.


As for the wide receiver the Rams picked up from Philadelphia, Brandon Gibson, he was good enough to keep on the 53 man roster for the Eagles but was no threat to crack the starting lineup when you have DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Kevin Curtis all stacked up in front of him.  Gibson was considered a decent prospect coming out of Washington State.  He is the school's all-time leader in receiving yards and second in receptions.  Gibson may have an upside to him but his attractiveness to the Rams is mainly due to two facts.  First the Rams are even more woefully thin at the position with Donnie Avery questionable and Laurent Robinson out and they need someone now.  Second he comes from the Eagles system so the terminology is the same which means he can play here immediately.  Not exactly the best reason in the world to trade for someone but a reason nonetheless.  At the very least he is a warm body with potential upside and there was a draft pick as a throw in.  It essentially means there are two rolls of the dice for the Rams to get something productive out of the Witherspoon trade.


The only questionable portion of this trade is what does the future hold for the Rams LB group in 2010 and beyond.  It appears that Laurniaitis will be a keeper but past that it sure looks like the Rams have created another hole to fill.  Witherspoon was never going to be a Pro Bowl caliber linebacker but he was solid enough to not be embarrassed.  Now the Rams are almost for sure going to have to draft a linebacker in the first three rounds and sign a free agent to fill the gaps.


It is no secret the Rams aren't playing for 2009, they are planning for the future.  Witherspoon was a good player and a good guy to have in the organization.  Hopefully his departure will bring the Rams closer to being a decent team in 2010 and beyond.  Right now though it is just another sign of how far the Rams are from being competitive once again.


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