In this day and age, high-profile wide receivers are typically assumed to be overly dramatic, self-centered and more concerned with individual success than winning. Tavon Austin was none of those things.

Austin embodied the culture change that Sean McVay sought to implement when he took over and transitioned the team away from the Jeff Fisher era. Austin is gone now, traded to the Cowboys for a sixth round-pick, but will leave behind a strong legacy of professionalism and selflessness.

Austin came into the league with incredibly high expectations, natural for an eighth overall pick. A blazing fast wideout, he put up gaudy numbers over his four years at West Virginia and captivated audiences with his dynamic playmaking ability.

He never put up the kind of numbers many Rams fans would have expected or hoped for, but he was always helping the team in some way. When he wasn’t running routes he was taking the ball on jet sweeps or handoffs, or making an impact in the return game, where he was electric as a punt returner for a few seasons.

Despite having a rollercoaster career which saw him sign a four-year, $42 million contract extension and become the target of relentless criticism from fans and media almost simultaneously, one thing remained constant: his unwavering positive attitude on and off the field.

As Austin’s role decreased throughout the 2017 season, there was seldom a peep from him to the media about any frustration. His relative silence was a breath of fresh air in a modern NFL where social media gripings and public airings of laundry are the norm.

The type of teammate that Austin was becomes clear when looking at the responses to his trading from the people who knew him best: his teammates and coaches.

McVay and Les Snead were effusive in their praise when talking about Austin after the trade. Snead called him “one of my favorite human beings on the planet.” He went on to say, “I can’t say enough about that human being — just what he went through last year, where he was at on the depth chart by the end, but still being an unbelievable team guy.”

McVay was just as strongly worded, saying this: “I think you find out a lot about people when they go through some hardships or some adversity and all he continued to demonstrate is that he’s all about the right stuff. Can’t really echo enough about what Les said, just the amount of respect you have for the human being.”

“All about the right stuff” sums up Austin pretty well. He was also a great ambassador for the team off the field, recently partnering with the charity L.A. Family Housing, which helps families transition from homelessness into new homes. It’s important to remember that football is, after all, just a game, and the places where Austin shined were far more important than how many receptions or receiving yards he ever had.

Most top-10 picks – or guys making $10-plus million per year – would have become divas long ago. Not Tavon, though, and it’s worth appreciating that fact when reflecting upon his Rams tenure. Amidst all the talk about Austin as a player, that shouldn’t get lost. He was a true pro and will forever be a great Ram, and Rams fans can only hope that the team’s current slew of top picks and high-paid stars can emulate his willingness to put his own ego aside.

Farewell, Tavon.