The Los Angeles Rams finally answered the question regarding wide receiver Tavon Austin’s future with the team after shipping him off to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Needless to say, it seems both sides feel it was for the best.
Austin had been the subject of much criticism during his tenure with the Rams. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, he feels somewhat relieved to be in Dallas:
“Lot of weight off my shoulders, him (Jerry Jones) speaking to me that I get to come play for America’s best team. It had always been a dream.”
Austin’s comments may be seen as a bit of a slight toward his former organization. However, there is plenty of truth regarding the newfound lack of pressure.
The Rams had made plenty of investments into Austin, yet, never really got much in return. They moved up eight spots in the 2013 NFL Draft to take the speedy wideout from West Virginia with the eighth overall pick. Austin showed plenty of promise as an all-purpose playmaker early on in his career.
However, things never came to fruition for him amidst all the Rams’ struggles on offense up until last season. Unfortunately, it resulted in him being relegated to a virtually non-existent role in the offense. To make matters worse, there were still lingering expectations from the lucrative contract extension he signed prior to the 2016 campaign.
Austin spent most of the 2017 NFL season coming out of the backfield to give running back Todd Gurley a breather from time to time. As a result, he mustered up 270 yards and a touchdown on 59 carries. He also hauled in just 13 receptions for 47 yards. That said, Austin is likely looking forward to getting back to his roots as a wideout in Dallas, which could pay off given how thin they are at the position.
