Despite ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reporting on August 9 that the L.A. Rams are not planning to trade Tutu Atwell, that hasn’t ended the rumblings surrounding the fourth-year wideout. Atwell has yet to find his footing in Hollywood and perhaps it was never meant to be. While the Rams have intentions of keeping the
Louisville product around for now, plans in the NFL can always change in an instant.
If LA does change their minds, Tutu could find a suitor willing to take a chance on his game-changing speed. Bleacher Report’s Ryan Fowler thought as much when he listed Atwell as a player the Rams should put on the preseason trade block:
“The fight for targets has been a battle for Atwell, specifically with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua serving as the integral weapons for the overall success of L.A.’s aerial attack. The presence of other talent has reduced the opportunities available for Atwell, making it difficult to showcase his ability on a larger scale.
By trading the former Louisville standout, the Rams can recoup some value, whether through draft picks or a player who better fits their needs.
Atwell’s speed is undeniably a weapon, but if it is not being maximized within the current system, it would be pragmatic for the Rams to explore the market.”
There’s not much to say about Tutu that hasn’t already been said. He does have remarkable speed whenever given the opportunity to make a splash play. However, any opportunities he had were few and far between once Cooper Kupp returned to the lineup.
A change of scenery could do Atwell plenty of good as his situation in Los Angeles is unlikely to change. On the initial depth chart of the preseason, Atwell was behind Demarcus Robinson as the WR3. His placement on the depth chart was disappointing, albeit nothing surprising.
Even his current status as WR4 is in jeopardy thanks to the emergence of rookie Jordan Whittington. The sixth-rounder led the team with six receptions for 74 yards against the Cowboys. Whittington has lived up to his offseason hype thus far and could become the Rams’ next late-round gem. If he does, Atwell might not be seeing the field much at all this season.
The growing sense is that Tutu Atwell will likely never live up to his potential in a Rams uniform. There was a small glimmer of hope that he could be a productive playmaker in the first month of last season, but it faded as the year went on. LA might not be interested in trading him now, yet things can change considerably once opposing teams start expressing more interest.
