The Rams Somehow Already Lost the Aqib Talib Salary Dump Trade With Dolphins in Embarrassing Fashion

The Los Angeles Rams spent money like crazy the last few seasons. Jared Goff got a major extension, as did Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley.

The team added another highly-paid player in 2018 when they traded for Aqib Talib, who was still on his six-year, $57 million deal he had signed with the Denver Broncos. He ended up playing in 13 total games for the Rams before being dealt to the Miami Dolphins during the 2019 season. The two trades for Talib did nothing to help Los Angeles.

The 2019 trade saw the Dolphins take on the $4.23 million for a player on injured reserve. The key was acquiring a fifth-round pick from a Rams team that could've used some younger, cheaper talent. All the Rams got in return was a 2022 seventh-rounder, which is basically a throwaway pick. This mirrored the 2018 trade with Denver that also saw the Rams send a fifth-round pick in exchange for Talib.

Thus, the Rams gave up two fifth-round picks for a player who ended up costing the team over $1 million for every game he played. And instead of just eating $4 million last season, the Rams gave up yet another draft pick, which has become a recurring theme.