Since the start of the NFL offseason, the Los Angeles Rams have remained one of the most active teams agreeing to a few trades involving key players on the defense. It has seen them already making the move to acquire All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters from the Kansas City Chiefs and ship Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Robert Quinn to the Miami Dolphins.

The front office wasn't finished by any means with the reported agreed upon trade of veteran linebacker Alec Ogletree and a seventh-round pick to the New York Giants for 2018 fourth-round and sixth-round selections. This move has immediately drawn a strong disapproving reaction from reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year running back Todd Gurley via social media.

It's clear that Gurley had developed a strong bond with Ogletree, who also shares the unique distinction of being of a former player from the University of Georgia. the 26-year-old had also developed into one of the leaders of the Rams' defense over the last two years after taking over the full-time role of being the starting middle linebacker after the departure of James Laurinitias.

Alec Olgetree, Rams, Giants
Paul Sancya/The Associated Press
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Ogletree was one of the Rams most dependable players on the defensive side of the ball over his first five years in the league with the team as he had recorded 95 or more tackles four times with three campaigns topping 100 total tackles. This had helped him earn a lucrative four-year, $42.7 million extension in October 2017 that had $30 million guaranteed.

His departure leaves a significant hole in their linebacker core that should be addressed at some point this offseason through free agency, draft, or trades. In the meantime, this deal opens up an additional $5.2 million in salary cap space that the Rams can use to help their efforts in re-signing wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and Trumaine Johnson.
What this also speaks to is that the NFL is a business and often times situations like this happen where it separates teammates that have built strong bonds, and Gurley is going through just that.
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