Rams Trade Pick for Chargers’ Lewis : Football: Wide receiver will earn $600,000 and becomes the team’s leading candidate to return punts and kickoffs.

The Rams, climbing close to the salary cap and therefore short on money to pursue Houston wide receiver Haywood Jeffires, traded a fourth-round pick in the 1995 draft to the Chargers Friday for wide receiver Nate Lewis.

Lewis, 27, who will earn $600,000 this season, immediately becomes the team’s leading candidate to return punts and kickoffs. The Rams had expressed interest in Phoenix return specialist Johnny Bailey and Detroit’s Mel Gray but found their salary demands prohibitive.

“Nate can still go the distance,” said Bobby Beathard, Charger general manager. “He can still run the 40-yard dash in a hair under 4.5, he will work hard and he’s a good example for other players.

“We really didn’t want to do this, but we have three young guys and two of them have lower salaries. Nate’s been a terrific player for us.”

The Rams traded quarterback Jim Everett and his $2.65-million contract to New Orleans on Friday to help their salary cap situation. The team would like to sign Jeffires but is waiting on Houston to see if the Oilers will match the Rams’ $4-million, four-year offer sheet to tackle Kevin Donnalley.

The Oilers have until Wednesday to match the Rams’ offer or free Donnalley. In the meantime, the Rams believe Jeffires is running out of options and will have to consider lowing his salary proposal of $2 million per season. Jeffires said he will sign with the Oilers, Redskins, Broncos or the Rams.

The Broncos, however, reportedly extended an offer sheet Friday to Charger wide receiver Anthony Miller, and the Redskins, like the Oilers, have serious salary cap concerns.

In the meantime, the Rams went with Lewis, who was also being pursued by the Bears and Redskins. Washington on Friday offered the Chargers a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft for Lewis, but their proposal came five minutes after the Rams and Chargers had sealed their deal for Lewis.

“He brings a lot to the table,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “He’s a fine receiver and a good kick and punt returner.”

Lewis, 5-11, 198, started nine games last season opposite Anthony Miller and caught 38 passes for 463 yards with four touchdowns. Lewis, a seventh-round pick from Oregon Tech in 1990, led the Chargers in kickoff returns with 33 for an average return of 20.7 yards.