Miami acquired running back Lamar Gordon from St. Louis just…
Miami acquired running back Lamar Gordon from St. Louis just before the 2004 season for a 2005 third-round pick. Gordon appeared in only three games for the Dolphins before a shoulder injury ended his season. The Rams used the 66th overall choice on safety O.J. Atogwe, who became a long-term starter and one of their most productive defensive backs. The difference in duration and impact makes this a decisive Rams win.
Los Angeles Rams Received
- pick 2005 3rd round pick (66th overall, O.J. Atogwe)
Miami Dolphins Received
- player Lamar Gordon
Trade Analysis
Why the Trade Happened
Miami entered the 2004 season searching urgently for running back help after Ricky Williams’ sudden retirement. St. Louis had Lamar Gordon behind Marshall Faulk and could afford to move him. The Dolphins sent a 2005 third-round choice to the Rams in exchange for Gordon, hoping a former third-round back could stabilize a position that had become a major problem.
What Miami Received
The move quickly unraveled for reasons that were difficult to predict. Gordon played only three games for Miami and carried 35 times for 64 yards before a shoulder injury ended his season. He never returned to give the Dolphins the longer-term value they had envisioned. For a future third-round pick, Miami received only a brief emergency patch.
How St. Louis Used the Pick
The Rams held the 66th overall selection in the 2005 draft and selected safety O.J. Atogwe. He developed into a multi-year starter and one of the more productive defensive backs of the franchise’s St. Louis era, providing exactly the kind of inexpensive, long-term roster value teams hope to find early in the third round.
Why This Trade Still Matters
The deal illustrates the danger of paying meaningful future draft capital to solve a sudden roster emergency. Miami’s reasoning was understandable because the season was about to begin, but the injury risk and short window made the downside substantial. St. Louis converted depth at running back into a starting defender with years of usefulness.
Final Verdict
Los Angeles Rams Win. The Rams earn an A- for turning Gordon into the pick that produced Atogwe. Miami earns a D because the club surrendered a valuable third-rounder and received only three games before Gordon’s season-ending injury.