St. Louis Rams wisely, and unsurprisingly, want to trade down
St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead speaks at a press conference during the 2013 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
St. Louis Rams general manager Les Snead has done a solid job of leading the organization, and he and the Rams seem set on moving forward with former No. 1 pick Sam Bradford at QB. That’s a decision I’m in favor of, and hopefully the Rams can rebuild their secondary and add a true No. 1 receiver in order to help Bradford succeed. The former Oklahoma Sooners star could definitely use a better supporting cast, especially since the Rams are locked in extremely difficult battles in most weeks due to their position in what is easily the NFL’s most difficult decision.
Snead has a reputation for trading down and stock-piling draft picks, and he likes to have multiple first-round picks in hand; he had two first-rounders in last year’s draft, after all. According to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King in today’s MMQB column, Snead has “made it clear” that the Rams want to trade down from the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and really want to have multiple first-round picks this year again. Snead is optimistic that teams looking for a quarterback in this year’s QB-heavy draft or looking to pick Jadeveon Clowney (either Clowney or Teddy Bridgewater will be available with the No. 2 pick, unless if Bridgewater shocks us all and doesn’t declare) will be willing to trade with the Rams.
Trading down also makes the most sense for the Rams, since there’s nobody worth it for the Rams to pick that high in the draft. They need to stockpile draft picks in order to improve in the secondary and at WR, and it would be a dream for them to come away with a receiver like Mike Evans and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. With two first-round picks, the Rams and Snead could really kill two birds with one stone, instead of reaching for a someone at a position of need or snagging someone like Jake Matthews at a position they don’t need anyone at. Jake Matthews is an excellent prospect, but why take him when you can trade down and snag two talented prospects who actually fit a position of need? I mean, Joe Barksdale has proven that he’s plenty good at right tackle.