Updated: St. Louis Rams trade for Atlanta WR Laurent Robinson
The Rams need help at the wide receiver position and got some Monday by trading for Atlanta wideout Laurent Robinson. The Rams acquired Robinson by switching draft positions with the Falcons in both the fifth and sixth rounds. They didn’t lose any picks; they just changed positions in both rounds with Atlanta.
The Rams get Atlanta’s fifth-round (No. 160 overall) and sixth-round (No. 196 overall) picks; Atlanta gets the Rams’ fifth-round (No. 138 overall) and sixth-round (No. 176 overall) picks.
Robinson was a third-round pick by the Falcons out of Illinois State in 2007. Rams general manager Billy Devaney was with the Falcons at that time and in the draft room when Robinson was selected.
Robinson started six games for the Falcons as a rookie, including the season opener. For the year, he appeared in 15 games with 37 catches for 437 yards. His only TD of the year was a 74-yard catch-and-run against Arizona in Game 15.
But Robinson was a Bobby Petrino draft pick, and fell out of favor with new head coach Mike Smith in 2008. Slowed by hamstring problems, Robinson appeared in just six games for the Falcons last season, catching five passes for 52 yards.
Robinson has good size at 6-2, 194 pounds, and is considered a speed guy with good hands. But the injury problems didn’t help his cause in Atlanta. Neither did the fact that he wasn’t considered physical enough by Smith’s staff, particularly as a blocker.
The Rams’ inherit his contract as a result of the trade, and Robinson comes cheaply. He has two years left on his contract and is scheduled to make $460,000 this season and $550,000 in 2010.
The Rams have made no promises about his role in St. Louis; he will simply compete for playing time.
Love this deal. Robinson had heaps of potential coming out of college and only little injuries at bad times have stopped him from moving up in Atlanta. He fits in well as a no. 3 for the time being and will push Burton to be no. 2 in camp. I still think there is a draft pick to come, but it may make that need less urgent. A Collie, P Turner, J, Knox, rather than a second or third rounder. This deal will allow spags to take a MLB and a D-Lineman to help him out.
They should still take a look at some free agent wide recievers, this guy has potential but so have a lot of people who never did anything. i like turner (USC) in the late rounds if he is still there but they need a tutor and i hope it is not Toomer that guy is washed just like kennison last year. Avery is best suited in the slot so his speed can be used correctly and based on last year he is easily injured. burton is still most likely a year away and Stanley is a #5 on most teams with enough potential to maybe be a #4 and spot #3 in times of injury. The rams have to address this pre draft or trade during the draft to attain a valuable vet or it is 1998 all over again i.e. small, proehl, hakim.
Don’t know much about him. Anyone have any details?
http://tinyurl.com/cnq5dq
He was the starter ahead of Michael Jenkins, opposite Roddy White last year entering season for the Falcons. He was injured most of the season (with mostly hamstring issues), and Jenkins took over and had a good year. Devaney is familiar with his ability, and must like him, so if he stays injury-free he might be a heck of a pickup. He has great size and speed.
My only issue would be is his ability to go over the middle. I remember pre-draft a lot of people spoke of him as primarily a deep threat. Burton or a vet (DJ Hackett??) will be that guy but he may not be a great compliment to avery as a starter on the other side.
Yeah, the Rams should look at free agent WR’s in the draft, particularly this guy that some people might have heard of; he played his college ball at N.C. State, great guy, good smile, some say he’ll prolly retire as a top 5-10 wide receiver of all time. The only negative this about him is that he gave himself his own nickname (Big Game), which I believe you’re not supposed to do…
This is a good move by the Rams. They gave up nothing and could get a starter. Billy D. magic strikes again!
no complaints here. a good tall receiver is just what we need to get the wide out corps. in place. Im predicting another receiver in the draft around the fourth or fifth round
I like the acquisition. I’m glad somebody else,(rams19) has checked J. Knox! The story is; he’s a work in progress. But he logged the fastest 40 at the combine. SIGH…, I’ll concede that Maclin, will probably be snatched away, in the first round. So Knox could take up the return duties.