Los Angeles traded down four spots in the fifth round on…
Los Angeles traded down four spots in the fifth round on April 29, 2023, sending No. 171 to Tampa Bay for Nos. 175 and 252. The Rams selected tight end Davis Allen at No. 175, and by early 2026 he had appeared in 49 games with 12 starts, 42 catches, 362 yards and four touchdowns. Los Angeles later used No. 252 as part of another trade-up, so both pieces of the return retained value.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 2023 fifth round pick (#175- Davis Allen )
- pick 2023 seventh round pick (#252, later packaged in trade to Buffalo)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Received
- pick 2023 fifth round pick (#171- Payne Durham )
Trade Analysis
The exchange is fully documented by both clubs and the NFL's 2023 draft trade tracker. Tampa Bay sent pick No. 175 and seventh-round pick No. 252 to Los Angeles for No. 171. The Buccaneers used No. 171 on Purdue tight end Payne Durham, while the Rams used No. 175 on Clemson tight end Davis Allen. The No. 252 selection did not stay with Los Angeles through the end of the draft, so the correct evaluation needs to separate the direct player comparison from the Rams' later use of the extra pick.
Allen has produced the stronger receiving line through the opening weeks of the 2026 season. NFL and Rams records list him with 49 career games, 12 starts, 42 receptions, 362 yards and four touchdowns. His role expanded in 2025, when he caught 24 passes for 208 yards and three scores, and he remained active in 2026. That gives Los Angeles a multi-year contributor from the higher of the two selections it received rather than a depth player who disappeared after one contract cycle.
Durham has also become a legitimate long-term Buccaneers roster piece. Tampa Bay and NFL records list him with 47 career games and 18 starts through the same point, with 17 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns. His raw receiving production trails Allen's, but the higher start count reflects a role that includes substantial inline and blocking work not captured by receiving statistics alone. The Buccaneers therefore received real multi-season value from the move up and should not be graded as if the trade produced a failed pick.
The extra seventh-round selection adds a second layer to the Rams' side. Los Angeles later packaged No. 252 with a 2024 sixth-round pick in a trade with Buffalo for No. 215, where the Rams selected running back Zach Evans. Because the Rams had to add another future selection to complete that move, TradeVerdicts does not treat Evans as if he came solely from the Tampa Bay trade. The defensible credit is that No. 252 remained a usable asset that helped Los Angeles move up later in the same draft.
The current hindsight edge belongs narrowly to Los Angeles. Allen has generated more receiving production than Durham and the Rams also extracted additional trade flexibility from No. 252, while Tampa Bay still landed a tight end who has played and started regularly for several seasons. A B+ for the Rams and B for the Buccaneers reflects that modest difference. The gap should remain limited because both players are active in 2026 and Durham's value is not fully represented by receiving totals.